The  Dawn  of  Knowledge 


AND 


The    Most    Great    Peace 


By    PAUL    KINGSTON    DEALT 


Price   25   cents 


Published  by 

Bahai   Publishing  Society 
Chicago,   U.  S.  A. 


To  THE  READER: 

i 

At  the  earnest  request  of  many  friends,  to  whom  we  delivered  orally  the 
following  Message — for  written  copies  of  the  same — the  work  was  begun  in  the 
Summer  of  1901,  and  finished  about  the  first  of  1902,  for  their  special  benefit; 
there  being  no  intention  originally  to  publish  these  Talks  in  book  form;  but  as 
the  increased  demand  rendered  it  impossible  to  supply  all  those  who  applied  for 
typewritten  copies,  it  was  decided  at  this  late  date  to  have  them  printed.  In  view 
of  this  fact,  we  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  date  of  its  completion,  as 
many  notable  events  deserving  special  mention  have  occurred  since  then,  and 
which  of  course  are  not  referred  to  in  the  closing  Talk.  Humbly  thy  servant 
the  Author. 

P.  1C  D. 


Copyright,  Paul  Kingston  Dealy 


PREFACE 


In  complying  with  the  urgent  demand  for  a  second  edition,  we  deem  it 
necessary  to  add  another  chapter  in  order  to  make  clearer  some  of  the  texts  quoted 
in  the  first  edition,  which  seem  not  to  have  been  fully  understood  by  readers  who 
have  not  considered  the  verses  in  their  broad  and  far-reaching  interpretation. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

August  24th,  1903. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  SECOND  EDITION 
To  THE  READER: 

N.  B. — Nearly  two  years  ago  the  above  note  and  new  chapter  mentioned 
was  written  and  forwarded  to  one  of  the  friends  in  New  York,  who  had  the 
matter  of  publication  in  hand,  but  for  substantial  reasons,  the  work  of  publishing 
has  been  delayed  up  to  the  present  time,  and  as  many  notable  events  have  trans- 
pired in  the  interim,  some  of  which  seemingly  cast  a  doubtful  reflection  on  some 
of  the  statements  of  the  first  edition,  we  feel  it  necessary  to  call  the  reader's 
attention  to  one  of  the  leading  and  most  horrifying  events  in  this  connection,  viz., 
the  present  war  between  Russia  and  Japan.  In  referring  to  the  tablets  sent  out 
by  El-Baha,  to  the  different  crowned  heads,  attention  was  called  to  the  fact,  on 
page  22,  first  edition,  of  the  wonderful  advancement  and  prosperity  of  Russia 
from  the  time  she  had  befriended  BAHA'O'LLAH  up  to  the  time  of  its  going  to 
press.  Since  then,  calamities  and  disasters  unparalleled  in  the  records  of  history, 
have  fallen  upon  that  nation  from  all  directions,  and  which  serves  only  to  further 
confirm  the  substance  of  the  last  Tablet  sent  by  the  Manifestation  to  the  Czar 
of  Russia. 

In  that  most  wonderful  tablet  He  reminded  that  monarch  that  "The  benefi- 
cence of  His  providence  hath  stirred,  and  the  sea  of  His  mercy  hath  moved," 
toward  him  for  the  reverence  shown,  but  that  it  would  continue  only  so  long  as 
his  face  was  turned  towards  the  face  of  his  Lord,  and  commanding  him  to 
"arise  amongst  the  people  and  summon  the  nations  to  God."  We  quote  from 
that  marvelous  Tablet  the  following  brief  extract : 

"One  of  thy  ambassadors  assisted  me  when  I  was  in  prison,  in  chains  and 
fetters,  therefore  God  hath  decreed  unto  thee  a  station  which  the  knowledge 
of  none  comprehendeth  save  He.  Beware  lest  thou  change  this  lofty  station, 
verily  thy  Lord  is  able  to  do  whatsoever  He  willeth.  He  cancelleth  what  He 
pleaseth  and  confirmeth  what  He  desireth,  and  with  Him  is  the  knowledge  of  all 

III 


things  in  a  Preserved  Tablet.  Beware  lest  sovereignty  prevent  thee  from  The 
Sovereign,  verily  He  hath  come  with  His  Kingdom,  and  all  the  atoms  cry  out, 
"The  Lord  hath  come  in  His  most  great  glory,  the  Father  hath  come  and  with 
Him  the  Son"  *  *  * 

Also  another  quotation  from  the  same : 

"O  people  of  deceits,  do  ye  behold  yourselves  in  palaces,  while  the  King 
of  Manifestation  is  in  the  most  ruined  of  abodes  (Akka)  ?  No,  by  my  life, 
ye  are  in  the  graves,  were  ye  of  those  who  perceive;  verily,  he  who  doth  not 
move  by  the  breath  of  God,  in  His  day,  is  indeed  dead  before  God,  the  King 
of  Names  and  Attributes.  Arise  from  the  graves  of  your  lusts  and  advance  to 
the  kingdom  of  your  Lord,  the  Ruler  of  the  Throne  and  Earth,  that  ye  may 
see  that  which  was  promised  unto  you  on  the  part  of  your  Lord,  the  All-Knowing. 
Do  ye  imagine  that  ye  will  be  profited  by  what  ye  have?  It  will  be  possessed 
by  some  one  in  your  stead,  and  ye  shall  return  to  the  dust  without  finding  anyone 
to  succor  or  help  you.  Of  what  use  is  a  life  that  is  ruled  by  death,  or  of  a 
continuance  (in  being)  which  vanishes,  or  of  a  grace  which  changes,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  grace  of  God  did  prosper  that  Empire  from  the  time  her  ambassador 
assisted  the  prisoner  in  chains  and  fetters  up  to  the  time  of  the  half-hearted  ful- 
fillment of  His  command  for  her  to  "arise  and  summon  the  nations  to  God," 
when  the  Czar  called  a  peace  conference  of  all  the  nations,  but  the  people  of 
influence  in  the  circle  of  royalty  prevented  him,  "the  lofty  station  changed,"  and 
the  promised  blessing  "cancelled,"  as  mentioned  in  the  Tablet.  Since  that  notable 
convention  called  by  the  Czar,  events  have  followed  in  rapid  succession,  which 
must  impress  the  most  heedless  that  verily  this  is  the  great  and  terrible  day  of 
the  Lord,  the  day  also  that  would  witness  the  return  of  the  chosen  people  to  the 
God  of  Israel,  the  day  in  which,  as  declared  by  the  mouth  of  this  prophet,  "they 
would  find  deliverance  in  Mount  Zion  and  in  Jerusalem." 

Dear  reader,  what  are  some  of  the  important  facts  in  connection  with  this 
disastrous  war  to  Russia?  Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  together,  then  draw 
your  own  conclusions.  Following  the  international  peace  conference,  as  every 
one  who  reads  the  daily  papers  knows,  a  brutal  and  most  heinous  massacre  of 
helpless  Jews  by  the  bigoted,  fanatic  subjects  of  the  Czar  occurred  in  Kishineff, 
and  to  which  inhuman  outrage  the  government  of  Russia  paid  little  or  no  atten- 
tion, but  her  apathy  was  not  destined  to  pass  very  long  with  impunity,  for 
immediately  after  that  atrocious  slaughter  of  innocents,  Japan  made  pressing 
demands  for  a  hasty  settlement  of  the  Corean  question,  but  though  small  and 
insignificant  as  compared  with  her  towering  foe,  yet  the  bold  and  intrepid  Japan 
was  not  to  be  trifled  with,  and  the  allotted  time  given  for  a  peaceful  settlement 
of  her  demands  having  expired,  war  was  declared  and  followed  up  with  a  blood- 
shed and  determination  not  to  be  found  in  the  annals  of  history.  Since  the 
commencement  of  the  war  but  few,  perhaps,  have  given  much  thought  to  some 
of  the  significant  incidents  connected  with  it.  When  war  was  declared  thr 
great  ones  of  Russia  treated  the  matter  as  a  huge  joke  on  them.  The  amusing 
spectacle  of  a  novice  in  the  arts  of  war,  a  pigmy,  demanding  attention  from  a 
high-classed  professional  warrior,  a  civilized,  Christian  giant,  was  too  ludicrous 
to  pass  unnoticed,  and  inspired  articles  in  the  autocratic  press  told  the  funny 
things  they  would  do  when  the  great  generals  arrived  on  the  scene  of  action  with 
the  indomitable  Cossacks,  who,  in  sportive  manner,  would  gayly  ride  out  among 
the  diminutive  foe,  seize  several  regiments  at  one  swoop,  and  with  squirming 
bunches  of  those  little  frustrates  of  Russian  designs,  under  their  stalwart  arms, 
carry  them  into  camp  and  thus,  without  any  bloodshed  whatever,  end  hostilitiei 


in  short  order,  "but  their  hopes  have  been  turned  into  disappointment  and 
mourning."  The  warning  of  El-Baha  has  had  its  effect.  "Do  ye  imagine  that 
ye  will  be  profited  by  what  ye  have?  It  will  be  possessed  by  some  one  in  your 
stead."  That  much-desired  naval  station,  Port  Arthur,  has  passed  out  of 
Russian  hands.  Their  dreadful  war  was  preceded  by  an  unmerciful  slaughter 
of  God's  chosen  people  in  the  day  of  return,  and  calamities  since  then  have 
fallen  upon  that  nation  thick  and  fast,  and,  remarkable  to  note,  it  was  preceded 
by  another  slaughter  of  her  Jewish  subjects.  On  the  10th  of  May  last  (1905), 
the  daily  papers  published  an  account  of  a  second  frightful  massacre  of  Jews 
in  the  town  of  Zhitomer,  and  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month  (19  days  later) 
the  same  papers  published  a  full  account  of  the  complete  destruction  of  her  great 
navy  in  the  east,  the  effect  of  which  has  rendered  her  troubles  there  as  of 
secondary  importance  compared  with  the  strife  and  bloodshed  that  is  going  on 
within  her  own  borders,  among  her  own  people.  Strikes,  plunder,  anarchy, 
murder,  desertion,  mutiny  and  violation,  as  the  civilized  world  knows,  are  to-day 
running  rampant  in  that  country,  which  confirm  the  warning  words  of  the 
Manifestation  conveyed  through  the  Tablet  herein  referred  to. 

At  this  present  writing,  as  that  deplorable  country  gave  not  any  attention 
to  the  Blessed  Writings,  how  many  difficulties  came  in  her  way  of  progress.    But 
it  is  certain  that  the  Holy  Words  regarding  Russia  have  not  yet  all  been  ful- 
filled, as  it  is  indicated  from  the  above  mentioned  extract. 
SUPPLEMENTED  BY  ABDUL-BAHA 

"But  regarding  the  war  with  Japan,  although  it  wras  brought  about  through 
the  consultations  with  the  people  of  influence  in  the  imperial  family  obliging 
H.  I.  M.  to  proclaim  war,  yet  the  loss  was  universal.  For,  as  this  war  came 
just  after  the  proclamation  of  the  universal  peace,  undoubtedly  it  was  fraught 
with  unwelcome  results.  But  looking  at  the  question  from  another  point  of 
view  it  is  an  indisputable  fact  that  this  war  will  accrue  and  add  immense  benefits 
to  the  government  and  the  nation  in  Russia,  that  is:  the  freedom  of  thought, 
the  freedom  of  conscience,  the  organization  of  the  Representative  Assembly,  and 
the  proclamation  of  the  equality  of  rights  amongst  the  subjects.  Prosperity  and 
salvation  are  an  unrealized  fact,  and  impossible  for  any  nation  without  the  repre- 
sentative government.  Therefore,  His  Majesty,  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  desires, 
out  of  his  own  good  will,  the  organization  of  the  Representative  Assembly. 
There  is  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  this  gracious  intention  of  the  Emperor  will 
bring  about  great  prosperity  to  the  nation  and  government  in  Russia,  and  the 
administration  of  this  government  will  find  such  a  power  that  it  will  create  the 
greatest  influence  in  the  political  world.  The  truth  is  this,  that  His  Majesty, 
the  Emperor,  in  reality  is  peaceful,  and  seeks  after  justice,  and  there  is  no  doubt 
he  will  be  confirmed  with  this  intention.  But  regarding  the  proclamation  of 
the  war  with  Japan  it  is  evident  it  was  brought  about  by  the  people  of  political 
influence,  whether  from  the  royal  family  or  others.  However,  through  the  gen- 
erous intervention  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  Roosevelt,  and 
Mr.  De  Witte's  intelligence,  the  war  was  happily  ended,  and  we  hope  that  good 
results  will  come  out  from  this  peace.  But  concerning  the  massacre  of  the 
Jews,  this  was  entirely  against  the  wish  of  the  Czar.  The  fanatical,  as  well 
as  the  prejudiced  people,  perpetrated  this  outrage,  but  its  evil  fell  upon  all.  We 
hope  that  such  things  will  not  transpire  any  more,  and  wisk  heartily  that  Russia's 
government  and  nation  may  progress  day  after  day." 

P.  K.  D. 
1905. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THIRD  EDITION 
To  THE  READER: 

The  pressing  demand  for  this,  the  third  edition,  would  indicate  "the  signs 
of  the  times"  referred  to  in  this  little  work  have  undoubtedly  aroused  the 
interest  of  seekers  to  an  extent  which,  apparently,  and  devoutly  to  be  hoped, 
will  lead  to  a  fuller  and  more  complete  investigation  of  this  most  vital  question. 
I  regret  exceedingly  that  circumstances  beyond  my  control  will  not  permit,  at 
this  present  writing,  the  carrying  out  of  my  intention,  viz.,  to  add  another 
chapter,  calling  attention,  in  a  clear,  full  and  explicit  manner,  to  the  most  con- 
firmatory evidence,  up  to  date,  of  the  remarkable  fulfillment  of  prophecy,  which 
must  honestly  be  acknowledged  and  accepted  by  the  most  skeptical. 

Should  a  further  demand  justify  another  issue,  I  hope  to  be  freed  from 
some  of  the  pressure  of  work  by  which  I  am  at  present  burdened,  so  that  I  can 
have  leisure  to  arrange  some  facts,  by  way  of  additional  proofs,  which  will 
greatly  assist  the  busy  ones  in  the  cause,  in  spreading  the  light;  for  the  present 
let  it  suffice  to  call  your  attention,  briefly,  to  just  one  important  event  which 
has  gained  world-wide  prominence  since  the  first  edition  of  this  little  work 
appeared.  I  refer  to  the  new  international  language,  "Esperanto,"  which 
it  is  claimed  "now  has  millions  of  adherents,  and  they  represent  every  nation, 
race,  religion  and  condition  of  life." 

To  the  casual  observer,  the  attempt  to  introduce  a  new  language  may  not 
attract  much  attention,  but  to  the  Bible  student  its  deep  significance,  in  con- 
nection with  prophecy,  will  be  recognized  and  understood  as  the  most  important 
event  which  has  yet  transpired,  that  tends  towards  universal  peace. 

Over  twenty-five  hundred  (2,500)  years  ago  the  mouth  of  the  prophet 
declared  a  universal  language  would  be  established  in  THIS  DAY,  and  long  before 
the  world  had  heard  of  "Esperanto"  or  its  distinguished  author,  Dr.  Zamenhof, 
BAHA'O'LLAH,  sent  forth  His  command  for  the  establishment  of  a  universal 
language.  Whether  or  not  Esperanto  is  to  be  the  one  finally  adopted  we  cannot 
at  this  early  stage  of  its  growth  assert,  but  its  enthusiastic  reception  throughout 
the  entire  world,  by  all  nations,  demonstrates  the  unmistakable  trend  of  current 
events  in  connection  with  the  prophecies.  Not  only  believers  in  the  new  revela- 
tion, but  all  well  disposed  persons,  interested  in  the  welfare  of  their  fellow  men — 
peace  loving  citizens  and  reformers  who  are  working  for  the  betterment  of  con- 
ditions of  the  masses,  recognize  the  fact  that  universal,  permanent  peace  can  only 
be  effected  through  an  international  language.  It  is  held  by  the  latter  that 
when  the  common  people — the  toilers — the  producers  of  all  material  wealth  of 
nations,  can  meet  and  discuss  intelligently,  in  a  familiar  tongue,  international 
questions  affecting  the  good  and  welfare  of  all,  race  prejudices  will  disappear  and 
wars  shall  cease  to  be.  The  subjects  of  the  different  nations  shall  then  glory,  not 
so  much  in  their  love  of  country,  as  they  shall  glory  in  love  for  their  fellowinen. 

These  troublous  times  have  caused  the  oppressed  people  of  all  nations  to 
think  for  themselves  as  never  before,  and  the  result  of  that  thinking  is  bringing 
them  to  a  clearer  understanding  of  the  real  cause  of  wars.  It  is  beginning  to 
dawn  upon  many,  especially  the  ones  upon  whom  the  brunt  of  battle  usually  falls, 
that  wars  are  chiefly  provoked  for  the  profit  and  financial  benefit  of  the  ruling 
class,  though  patriotic  reasons  are  never  wanting  to  show  why  the  common 
people  should  shoulder  their  rifles  and  march  forth  to  kill  their  fellowmen,  be- 
longing to  other  nations,  in  order  to  uphold  the  honor  and  glory  of  their  own; 
that,  at  the  bottom  of  those  patriotic  appeals,  lies  the  real  aim  and  object  in 
the  form  of  commercial  supremacy,  trade  privileges  and  the  accessions  of  territory, 

\f 


and  it  is  also  beginning  to  dawn  upon  the  many  that  the  most  effective  means  of 
ending  this  barbarous  legalized  human  butchery  (for  such,  in  the  final  analysis,  is 
war,  though  it  may  be  robed  in  the  subtle  garb  of  patriotism  and  national  honor) , 
is  through  an  international  language.  When  all  the  people,  and  especially  those 
who  are  called  upon  to  do  the  slaughtering  and  pay  the  cost  of  war,  can  reason 
together,  without  the  aid  of  interpreters,  through  the  medium  of  a  universal 
language — intermingling  in  closer  communion,  commercially,  socially  and  re- 
ligiously— the  bonds  of  friendship  and  mutual  interest  will  become  so  strong 
that  a  resort  to  arms  as  the  only  effective  means  of  settling  international  disputes 
will  be  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  good  and  desirable  results  emanating  from  a 
universal  language  cannot  be  overestimated,  viewed  from  any  standpoint.  The 
cost  of  constructing  one  modern  battleship,  to  say  nothing  of  the  enormous 
expense  of  operating  the  same,  after  being  placed  in  commission,  would  pay  ten 
thousand  teachers  one  thousand  dollars  salary  for  one  year,  and  as  it  is  the 
policy  of  governments  to  keep  adding  yearly  those  modern  monsters  to  their 
respective  navies,  think  what  an  immense  army  of  teachers  a  very  small  per 
cent  of  this  prodigious  outlay  could  distribute  among  the  public  schools  of  the 
world,  employing  them  in  giving  free  instruction  in  that  which  will  do  a  thousand 
times  more  to  establish  on  earth,  peace  and  good  will  towards  men  than  all 
the  international  peace  conferences  and  menacing  armies  and  navies  could  ever 
do.  The  popular  idea  of  governments  that,  in  order  to  preserve  peace,  they  must 
necessarily  be  prepared  for  war,  is  a  fallacy  which  entails  great  hardship  and 
adds  untold  burdens,  which  must  be  borne  by  the  masses;  and  the  increasing 
drain  on  the  resources  of  the  plain  people  to  keep  up  the  display  of  national 
strength,  power  and  ability  for  the  indiscriminate  destruction  of  human  life 
and  possessions,  is  making  itself  felt  to  the  extent  that  thinking  minds  see  the 
blessed  end  of  brutal  wars,  of  blood  and  carnage,  as  a  means  of  adjusting  inter- 
national difficulties,  in  the  adoption  of  a  universal  language.  Blessed  are  the 
ones  whose  efforts  in  this  direction  are  bearing  fruit,  for  they  are  the  torch 
bearers,  lighting  up  the  path  which  leads  to  the  promised  most  great  peace,  which 
shall  prevail  according  to  the  prophecy  of  Zephaniah  (Chapter  3,  verses  8  and  9). 

"Therefore  wait  ye  upon  me,  said  the  Lord,  until  the  day  that  I  rise  up 
to  the  prey:  for  my  determination  is  to  gather  the  nations,  that  I  may  assemble 
the  kingdoms,"  etc. 

"For  then  will  I  turn  to  the  people  a  pure  language,  that  they  may  ALL  call 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  serve  him  with  ONE  CONSENT." 

P.  K.  D. 

October,  1908. 


"We  desire  but  the  good  of  the  world 
and  the  happiness  of  the  nations  .  .  .  That 
all  nations  should  become  one  in  faith  and  all 
men  as  brothers  .  .  .  These  fruitless  strifes, 
these  ruinous  wars,  shall  pass  away,  and  the 
'Most  Great  Peace*  shall  come." 

BAHA'O'LLAH 


THE   DAWN   OF   KNOWLEDGE 

AND 

THE  MOST  GREAT  PEACE 

By  PAUL  KINGSTON  DEALY 


"And  I  will  give  you  pastors  according  to  mine  heart, 
which  shall  feed  yo«  with  knowledge  and  under- 
standing."— Jeremiah  3:15. 

"For  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of 
the  glory  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the 
sea." — Habakkuk  2:14. 


CHAPTER  1— THE  COMING  OF  THE  KINGDOM. 

CHAPTER  2— THE  MESSENGER. 

CHAPTER  3— THE  PRINCE  OF  PEACE. 

CHAPTER  4— THE  MAN  WHOSE  NAME  IS  "THE  BRANCH.' 


CHAPTER  1.— THE  COMING  OF  THE  KINGDOM. 

The  substance  or  pith  of  the  Bible,  when  rightly  understood,  is  a  clear 
revelation  of  events  which  are  transpiring  in  this  present  day;  and  the  diligent 
seeker  of  divine  knowledge  who  studies  its  contents  in  the  spirit  of  honest 
research,  will  find  that,  throughout  the  entire  book,  the  hand  on  the  dial  of  its 
sacred  pages  invariably  points  to  the  great  day  in  which  we  live.  All  the 
Prophets  struck  the  same  keynote  in  their  marvelous  song  of  coming  events, 
the  chords  of  unvarying  harmony  being  the  coming  of  the  glorious  God  and 
His  Christ  to  set  up  His  Kingdom  on  earth. 

Jesus  declared,  Luke  4:43,  that  His  mission  was  "to  preach  about  the 
Kingdom  of  God,"  and  all  His  parables  and  illustrations  had  direct  reference 
to  God's  Kingdom  here  on  earth;  that  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard  would  come 
Himself,  Mark  12:9;  "That  He  would  spread  a  great  table  and  invite  many 
to  partake  of  His  supper,"  Luke  14:15 — and  that  the  people  would  come  from 


the  east  and  from  the  west  and  from  the  north  and  from  the  south,  and  sit  down 
in  the  kingdom  of  God,  Luke  13:29.  Jude  declared — the  Lord  would  come 
with  ten  thousand  of  His  saints,  Verse  14.  Paul  speaks  of  "Looking  for  that 
blessed  hope  and  the  glorious  appearing  of  the  Great  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,"  Titus  2:13.  The  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  the  Prophet  Micah, 
saying — "Hear  all  ye  people,  harken  O  earth — for  behold  the  Lord  cometh  forth 
out  of  His  place  and  will  come  down  and  tread  upon  the  high  places  of  the 
earth,"  Micah  1 :2,  3.  Solomon  intimated  "Will  God  indeed  dwell  on  the  earth !" 
1st  Kings,  8:27.  "And  this  is  the  blessing  wherewith  Moses,  the  man  of  God, 
blessed  the  children  of  Israel  before  his  death.  And  he  said :  "The  Lord  came  from 
Sinai,  and  rose  up  from  Seir  unto  them ;  he  shined  forth  from  Mount  Paran,  and 
he  came  with  ten  thousands  of  saints ;  from  his  right  hand  went  a  fiery  law  for 
them,"  Deut.  33:1,  2.  The  spirit  of  prophecy  speaking  through  St.  John,  pro- 
claimed :  "I  am  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  ending,  saith 
the  Lord,  which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come,  the  Almighty,"  Rev. 
1 :8.  And  at  His  coming  Zechariah  avers,  Chapter  14;  Verse  9:  "And  the  Lord 
shall  be  King  over  all  the  earth,  in  that  day  shall  there  be  one  Lord  and  His 
name  One."  Isaiah  tells  us,  Ch.  2:2,  3,  that,  "It  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last 
days  that  the  mountain  of  the  Lord's  house  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the 
mountains,  and  be  exalted  above  the  hills;  and  all  nations  shall  flow  unto  it. 
And  many  people  shall  go  and  say — Come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of 
the  Lord,  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob;  and  He  will  teach  us  of  His  ways, 
and  we  will  walk  in  His  paths ;  for  out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the 
word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem."  The  Prophet  Micah  reiterates  almost  the 
same  words.  Zechariah  speaks  of  the  same  conditions  at  that  time,  Ch.  8 :20-22. 
"Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts;  it  shall  yet  come  to  pass  that  there  shall  come 
people,  and  the  inhabitants  of  many  cities:  And  the  inhabitants  of  one  city  shall 
go  to  another,  saying,  Let  us  go  speedily  to  pray  before  the  Lord,  and  to  seek 
the  Lord  of  Hosts:  I  will  go  also.  Yea,  many  people  and  strong  nations  shall 
come  to  seek  the  Lord  of  Hosts  in  Jerusalem,  and  to  pray  before  the  Lord." 

These  are  a  few  of  the  many  passages  in  the  Holy  Book  announcing  the 
great  event  which  is  to  take  place  in  the  latter  days. 

To  the  one  who  has  read  these  words  carefully  and  understandingly,  and 
is  convinced  that  they  mean  exactly  what  they  state,  undoubtedly  the  question  will 
arise  in  his  mind :  If  God  is  to  come  and  manifest  Himself  to  His  creatures  and 
establish  His  household  here  on  earth,  then  how  shall  He  appear?  In  what  man- 
ner shall  He  come?  From  whence  shall  He  come?  When  shall  He  come?  And 
how  shall  we  know  that  He  is  The  One  when  He  does  come?  Upon  all  these 
points  the  Bible  (when  rightly  understood)  has  clearly  instructed  us,  and  in  con- 
sidering this  great  question,  let  us  follow  the  counsel  of  the  Mighty  One — Isaiah 
1 :18 — "Come  now  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the  Lord." 

That  He  is  to  come,  the  passages  just  quoted  clearly  indicate,  and  should  be 
sufficient  to  convince  any  honest,  rationally  minded  person ;  but  owing  to  the 
errors  of  early  training,  to  many,  the  manner  of  His  coming  may  perhaps  be  some- 
what perplexing,  but  a  proper  exercise  of  the  reasoning  faculties  which  God  has 
given  us,  in  connection  with  prophetic  utterances,  will  clear  our  vision  and  "make 
the  crooked  things  straight." 

The  Bible  teaches  that  no  man  hath  ever  seen  God.  The  finite  mind  cannot 
comprehend  the  Infinite  Essence;  the  creature  cannot  comprehend  the  Creator — 
any  more  than  the  thing  made  can  comprehend  its  maker.  The  watch  cannot 
comprehend  the  watchmaker ;  neither  can  man  comprehend  his  Creator.  But  you 

in 


may  say,  the  comparison  is  not  logical  because  the  watch  is  inanimate  matter, 
whilst  man  is  an  intelligent  being.  Granted  that  this  is  so — that  man  is  an  in- 
telligent being  and  the  watch  inanimate  matter — it  does  not  affect  the  fact  the 
Creator  is  as  much  higher  above  the  creature  as  the  watchmaker  is  above  the 
watch — and  as  Heaven  is  high  above  the  earth — because  the  maker  of  the  watch 
did  not  create  the  essence  of  which  the  watch  is  composed,  but  the  Creator  of 
man  did  create  the  essence  of  which  he  (man)  is  composed  and  also  gave  him  his 
intelligence;  therefore,  notwithstanding  man's  intellectual  attainments,  his  Cre- 
ator is  as  far  above  him  as  the  east  is  from  the  west.  Man's  powers  being  con- 
fined to  his  own  sphere  or  attitude,  he  can  comprehend  nothing  beyond  his  limita- 
tion. Being  a  limited  creature,  how  is  man  then  going  to  comprehend  the  un- 
limited Creator  when  He  comes?  Can  he  know  or  understand  Him  as  a  lovely 
flower,  a  delicious  ether,  filling  the  boundless  space  of  man's  sphere,  to  be  breathed 
into  the  nostrils  of  his  imagination — or  a  beautiful  bird,  a  beautiful  animal,  or 
any  other  majestic,  awe-inspiring,  living  thing  outside  man's  limitation?  As- 
suredly not. 

Then  how  is  mankind  going  to  know  or  understand  Him  when  He  comes? 

There  is  but  one  conceivable  way-  by  which  we  can  comprehend  Him,  and 
that  is  in  the  form  of  a  man,  adorned  with  characteristics  and  attributes  possible 
for  mankind  to  attain,  and  in  this  form  we  must  look  for  Him,  for  there  is  no 
other  that  would  satisfy  or  by  which  we  could  understand  Him,  and  it  is  in  this 
form  all  the  Prophets  have  told  us  He  would  appear.  And  if  we  reflect  for  a 
moment,  we  have  only  to  turn  to  the  first  page  of  the  Bible  to  learn  the  astound- 
ing fact  that  the  form  man  bears  is  not  his  own,  but  is  in  reality  made  after  the 
pattern  of  God's ;  so  that  when  He  comes,  it  will  be  with  His  own  form,  of  which 
man's  form  is  an  image.  Genesis  1 :27 — "So  God  created  man  in  His  own  image; 
in  the  image  of  God  created  He  him."  In  accordance  with  this,  instead  of  God 
taking  the  form  of  man,  it  is  man  that  has  taken  the  form  of  God.  The  so- 
called  human  form  is  the  one  which  God  specially  designed  for  Himself  in  order 
to  manifest  Himself  to  His  creatures,  and  bestowed  upon  mankind  the  great  favor 
and  honor  of  bearing  His  likeness,  that  when  He  would  appear  they  could  com- 
prehend Him ;  and  by  compliance  with  His  commands,  fit  themselves  to  come  into 
His  presence  and  associate  with  Him  and  His  chosen  ones  throughout  eternity. 
Therefore,  it  is  clear  that  when  He  appears  on  earth,  it  will  be  in  the  so-called 
human  form — "like  unto  the  son  of  man" — so  often  mentioned  in  the  Bible; 
that  all  mankind  who  desire  to  know  Him  in  reality,  to  love  Him  in  reality  and 
to  enjoy  Him  in  reality,  may  have  that  great  privilege. 

But  again  the  question  arises:  If  He  is  coming  in  the  form  of  man,  how 
will  He  reach  the  earth?  Will  He  descend  suddenly  with  a  fully  matured  ma- 
terial body?  The  Bible  teaches  this  could  not  be,  as  it  plainly  states  flesh  and 
blood  cannot  inherit  the  Kingdom  of  God;  1st  Cor.,  15:50 — "Now  this  I  say, 
brethren,  that  flesh  and  blood  cannot  inherit  the  Kingdom  of  God;  neither  does 
corruption  inherit  incorruption."  Hence  His  immediate  descent  from  the  Spirit- 
ual Realms  with  a  material  body  would  be  at  variance  with  Scriptural  teachings, 
in  direct  opposition  to  Divine  Law  and  contrary  to  science  and  reason;  conse- 
quently if  He  comes  as  a  man,  He  must  of  necessity,  according  to  the  law  of 
procreation,  come  in  the  regular  way,  the  way  in  which  all  mankind  have  come. 

That  He  shall  come  as  a  man  is  an  assured  fact,  which  all  prophetic  ut- 
terances confirm.  Christ  at  different  times  referred  to  Him  coming  "as  the 
Son  of  Man" — i.  e.,  a  man  like  any  other  man,  as  for  instance  in  Matt.  24:37, 
"But  as  the  days  of  Noe  wrere,  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man  be." 

11 


Daniel,  in  his  vision  of  the  Kingdom,  saw  Him  "as  one  like  the  Son  of  Man." 
In  the*  vision  of  Ezekiel — Chap.  1,  Ver.  26 — he  saw  Him  "On  his  throne  having 
the  appearance  of  a  man."  John  also  saw  Him  "Like  unto  the  Son  of  Man 
clothed  with  a  garment  down  to  the  foot,"  Rev.  1 :13.  There  can  be  no  mis- 
taking the  meaning  of  these  utterances. 

Assuredly  He  shall  come  as  a  man,  in  appearance  like  all  other  men,  "That 
He  may  do  His  work,  His  strange  work,  and  bring  to  pass  His  act,  His  strange 
act,"  mentioned  in  Isaiah  28:21.  Strange  indeed  it  will  seem  to  many  that  God 
shall  visit  this  earth  in  the  human  form,  and  establish  His  everlasting  Kingdom. 
But  strange  as  it  may  seem  to  us,  this  in  reality  is  the  real  purpose  of  His  coming 
as  foretold  by  all  the  Prophets.  Daniel  speaks  of  the  event  in  no  uncertain  tones, 
Chapter  2 :44 — "And  in  the  days  of  these  Kings  shall  the  God  of  Heaven  set  up 
a  Kingdom,  which  shall  never  be  destroyed;  and  the  Kingdom  shall  not  be  left 
to  other  people,  but  it  shall  break  in  pieces  and  consume  all  these  Kingdoms,  and 
it  shall  stand  for  ever."  Moreover,  He  is  going  to  establish  a  city,  which  shall 
be  visited  by  the  people  of  all  countries,  and  glorious  things  shall  be  spoken  of  it 
by  those  who  visit  it.  Psalms  87 :3.  "Glorious  things  are  spoken  of  thee,  O 
City  of  God."  Verse  5,  as  follows,  "and  of  Zion  it  shall  be  said,  this  and  that 
man  was  born  in  her,  and  the  HIGHEST  HIMSELF  shall  establish  her."  The 
city  is  going  to  have  a  beautiful  situation,  and  God  is  going  to  be  greatly  praised 
in  her.  Psalms  48:1,  2 — "Great  is  the  Lord,  and  greatly  to  be  praised  is  the  city 
of  our  God,  in  the  mountain  of  His  holiness.  Beautiful  for  situation,  the  joy  of 
the  whole  earth,  is  mount  Zion,  on  the  sides  of  the  north,  the  city  of  the  great 
King." 

Kings  also  are  going  to  bring  presents  to  Him.  Psalms  68 :29 — "Because  of 
Thy  temple  at  Jerusalem  shall  kings  bring  presents  unto  Thee."  Also  Psalms 
72:10 — "The  kings  of  Tarshish  and  of  the  isles  shall  bring  presents;  the  kings 
of  Sheba  and  Seba  shall  offer  gifts.  Yea,  all  kings  shall  fall  down  before  Him ; 
all  nations  shall  serve  Him." 

But  the  question  remains — How  is  the  great  King  going  to  come?  Will  the 
heavens  suddenly  open  and  the  sound  of  a  great  trumpet  announce  His  speedy 
descent  upon  us?  Oh  no — that  could  not  be,  for  material  things  do  not  exist 
in  the  Spiritual  Realms,  and  it  would  have  to  be  a  material  trumpet  in  order  for 
us  to  hear  with  our  material  ears;  and  our  material  eyes  could  not  perceive  a 
Spiritual  body.  Then  how  will  He  come?  To  harmonize  with  the  laws  He 
Himself  has  established,  and  to  conform  to  that  which  He  hath  ordained  for 
Himself,  He  must  be  born  of  earthly  parents,  and  grow  up  in  like  manner  with 
every  child  born  into  this  world.  God  will  never  violate  His  own  laws,  nor  per- 
form any  unnecessary  miracle  in  order  to  accomplish  what  He  has  preordained. 

There  need  be  no  speculation  as  to  the  manner  of  His  coming,  for  the  Bible 
is  very  specific  on  this  point,  notably  Isaiah  9:6 — "For  unto  us  a  child  is  born, 
unto  us  a  son  is  given,  and  the  government  shall  be  upon  His  shoulder,  and  His 
name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  the  Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting 
Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace."  Many  misguided  people,  ignorant  of  the  sym- 
bolic language  used  in  the  sacred  writings,  have  confounded  this  passage  with  the 
prophecies  relating  to  the  coming  of  Christ,  and  for  proof  of  this  we  have  only 
to  turn  to  the  words  of  Christ  Himself  to  understand  that  it  did  not  refer  to 
Him,  but  to  the  One  whom  He  prophesied  should  come  after  Him;  the  One 
whom  He  declared  was  greater  than  He — "The  Father,  the  Lord  of  the  Vine- 
yard, who  would  come  and  destroy  the  wicked  husbandman  who  cast  his  son  out 
of  the  Vineyard  and  killed  him" — Luke  20:9;  Mark  12:1.  Christ  did  not  claim 

12 


to  be  "The  Prince  of  Peace" — but  did  claim  for  Himself  the  very  reverse,  Luke 
12:51-53 :  "Suppose  ye  that  I  am  come  to  give  peace  on  earth?  I  tell  you,  nay; 
but  rather  division:  For  from  henceforth  there  shall  be  five  in  one  house  di- 
vided, three  against  two,  and  two  against  three.  The  father  shall  be  divided 
against  the  son,  and  the  son  against  the  father;  the  mother  against  the  daughter, 
and  the  daughter  against  the  mother;  the  mother-in-law  against  the  daughter- 
in-law,  and  the  daughter-in-law  against  her  mother-in-law."  In  Matt.  10:36, 
this  passage  ends:  "And  a  man's  foes  shall  be  they  of  his  own  household." 

The  Most  Great  Peace,  which  Christ  and  the  Prophets  referred  to  at  divers 
times,  was  that  which  should  follow  the  advent  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  the  Lord 
of  the  Vineyard,  after  He  would  come  and  take  the  vineyard  from  the  dishonest 
husbandman,  and  give  it  to  those  more  worthy,  the  same  time  referred  to  by 
Daniel — "After  Michael  should  stand  up."  After  that  time  would  be  realized 
the  time  mentioned  in  Daniel,  12th  Chapter — "Blessed  is  he  that  waiteth 
and  cometh  to  the  thousand  three  hundred  and  five  and  thirty  days." 

In  another  Talk  we  will  have  occasion  to  refer  more  fully  to  this  very  im- 
portant passage. 

The  prophecies  thus  far  quoted,  show  us  plainly  that  God  is  to  come  to 
this  earth,  and  establish  His  everlasting  Kingdom;  that  He  will  come  as  a  man, 
and  coming  as  such,  will  be  born  of  earthly  parents,  and  grow  up  like  other 
children  born  into  this  world.  But  some  may  say,  if  the  miraculous  does  not  at- 
tend His  coming,  how  shall  we  know  Him,  and  also  know  the  time  when  to  look 
for  Him,  and  in  what  part  of  the  world  will  He  make  His  appearance?  Here 
again  the  Bible  is  very  clear.  At  that  time  it  tells  us,  He  shall  send  an 
advancer,  Malachi  3:1 — "Behold  I  will  send  My  Messenger,  and  He  shall  pre- 
pare the  way  before  Me,  and  the  Lord  whom  ye  seek  shall  suddenly  come  to  His 
temple,  even  the  Messenger  of  the  Covenant  whom  ye  delight  in,  behold  He 
shall  come,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts."  But  you  may  say  you  are  in  as  great  a 
dilemma  as  ever,  for  how  shall  we  know  the  Messenger,  that  He  is  the  one? 
Christ  said :  "The  day  or  the  hour  no  man  knoweth,"  but  after  mentioning  many 
things  that  would  happen  before  the  Great  Event  would  take  place,  He  reminds 
us  that  "when  we  shall  see  all  these  things,  know  that  it  is  near,  even  at  the 
doors,"  Matt.  24.  Daniel  informs  us  that  at  that  time,  "the  wise  shall  under- 
stand, but  the  wicked  shall  not  understand."  Now  who  are  the  wise  and  who  are 
the  wicked?  The  wise  are  they  who,  according  to  the  teachings  of  the  Sacred 
Writings,  are  honestly  seeking  to  know  God ;  and  the  wicked,  those  who  are  in- 
different about  God,  and  unconcerned  about  Spiritual  things. 

The  Angel  told  Daniel  "to  close  the  book  and  seal  it  until  the  time  of  the 
end,"  hence  the  Bible  would  be  a  sealed  book  until  the  Messenger  should  come 
who  would  reveal  its  hidden  words.  The  Bible  is  a  book  of  prophecies,  foretelling 
future  events,  and  there  is  no  possible  way  of  proving  the  prophecy  until  the 
prophecy  is  fulfilled,  and  to  those  who  are  not  earnestly  seeking  the  light  of  God's 
Truth,  how  can  they  understand  the  Wonderful  Book?  Isaiah  reminds  us  of  this, 
Chapter  29:11,12 — "And  the  vision  of  all  is  become  unto  you  as  the  word  of  a 
book  that  is  sealed,  which  men  deliver  to  one  that  is  learned,  saying,  read  this, 
I  pray  thee:  and  he  saith,  I  cannot;  for  it  is  sealed.  And  the  book  is  delivered 
to  him  that  is  not  learned,  saying,  read  this,  I  pray  thee;  and  he  saith,  I  am  not 
learned."  The  learned  say  they  cannot  read  it,  because  it  is  a  sealed  book  to  them, 
and  the  unlearned  say  they  cannot  read  it,  because  they  are  unlearned. 

As  before  remarked,  there  is  no  way  of  proving  prophecy  until  the  prophecy 
is  fulfilled.  If  I  predict  a  certain  event,  or  series  of  events,  which  are  going  to 

18 


take  place  at  a  given  time  in  the  future,  is  there  any  possible  way  that  I  can 
convince  you  my  predictions  are  true,  until  the  time  arrives  for  their  fulfillment  ? 
Certainly  not.  We  must  wait  until  the  appointed  time,  then  if  they  come  to  pass, 
you  must,  as  a  rational  being,  believe  me  to  be  a  prophet;  but  if  they  do  not 
come  to  pass,  then  you  would  be  justified  in  condemning  me  as  a  fraud.  And  it 
is  in  about  this  relation  we  stand  towards  the  Bible;  until  we  have  been  in- 
structed in  the  hidden  meaning  of  its  contents,  it  is  a  sealed  Book  to  us,  and  we 
cannot  rightly  understand  it;  the  prophecies  must  surely  come  to  pass,  before 
we  can  believe  them.  The  office  of  the  Messenger  whom  God  shall  send,  will 
be  to  break  the  seals  and,  by  His  revelations,  end  the  wonders  mentioned  in  Dan. 
12:6,  revealing  to  us  the  fulfillment  of  prophecy;  and  by  this  we  shall  know  Him. 

Already  the  Sun  of  Truth  hath  arisen  in  the  obscure  horizon  of  prophetic 
wonders,  and  its  clarifying  rays,  so  bright  and  penetrating,  have  lighted  up  the 
understanding  of  the  wise,  and  with  them  have  caused  those  wonders  to  end. 
The  prophecy  of  Isaiah  they  know  for  a  certainty  has  been  fulfilled,  Chap.  9:V. 
2,  3 — "The  people  that  walk  in  darkness  have  seen  a  great  light;  they  that 
dwell  in  the  land  of  the  shadow  of  death,  upon  them  hath  the  light  shined." 

The  Advancer,  the  Messenger,  whom  God  would  send,  the  One  whom  He 
promised  He  would  give  us,  who  would  feed  us  with  knowledge  and  under- 
standing, has  come.  The  people  that  walk  in  darkness  have  seen  the  Great  Light, 
upon  them  hath  the  Light  shined.  And  in  our  next  Talk  we  will  tell  the  won- 
derful story  of  how,  when  and  where  He  came,  and  the  marvelous  things  He 
has  revealed. 


CHAPTER  2.— THE  MESSENGER. 

To  review  briefly  the  salient  points  of  our  last  Talk — we  have  seen  that 
the  fundamental  teaching  of  the  Bible  is  the  coming  of  God  and  His  Christ,  and 
the  setting  up  of  His  Kingdom  here  on  this  earth.  That  He  would  come  in  the 
human  form,  be  born  a  child  of  earthly  parents,  grow  up,  and  as  the  Prince  of 
Peace,  rule  with  great  power  (i.  e.,  spiritual),  majesty,  justice,  love  and  mercy. 
That  under  His  propitious  government  would  be  ushered  in  the  Most  Great 
Peace  and  Universal  Brotherhood,  and  that  His  coming  would  be  heralded  by 
His  Messenger  whom  He  would  send  to  prepare  the  way  before  Him.  That 
Messenger,  we  told  you,  had  already  come,  and  in  this  Talk  we  shall  relate  a 
few  particulars  concerning  His  appearance  and  wonderful  work. 

As  God  declared  through  the  mouth  of  the  Prophet  Malachi,  4th  Chap., 
5th  and  6th  verses,  "Behold,  I  wrill  send  you  Elijah  the  prophet  before  the  com- 
ing of  the  great  and  dreadful  day  of  the  Lord" — the  Elijah  herein  mentioned  (as 
before  stated)  has  already  come  and  fulfilled  His  mission,  has  broken  the  seal  of 
prophecy  and  ended  the  wonders  which  for  centuries  have  perplexed  Bible  students 
and  seekers  of  Divine  Knowledge. 

As  was  said  of  Christ  during  His  mission,  Matt.  7:28,  29,  "And  it  came 
to  pass,  when  Jesus  had  ended  these  sayings,  the  people  were  astonished  at  His 
doctrine:  For  He  taught  them  as  one  having  authority,  and  not  as  the  scribes." 
The  same  very  fittingly  applied  to  the  Precursor  of  the  Great  Manifestation  of 
the  Mighty  God,  Who  in  our  day  has  come,  and  revealed  His  secrets  unto  the 
ones  whom  God  declared  should  know  them.  Psalms  25 :14, — "The  secret  of  the 
Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  Him ;  and  He  will  show  them  His  covenant." 

You  will  from  now  on  begin  to  realize  why  these  teachings  are  given 
privately.  Christ,  referring  to  these  days,  said,  Luke  12 :3, — "That  which  ye  have 
spoken  in  the  ear  in  closets  shall  be  proclaimed  upon  the  housetops."  The  time 
for  announcing  this  Great  Truth  openly  to  the  world  has  not  yet  arrived;  the 
majority  of  the  people  are  not  yet  ready  to  receive  it,  and  until  that  time  arrives, 
we  must  be  guided  by  the  reminder  of  Christ,  Matt.  10:16, — "Behold,  I  send  you 
forth  as  sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves ;  be  ye  therefore  wise  as  serpents,  and  harm- 
less as  doves."  He,  Christ,  taught  His  disciples  in  private,  but  to  the  multitude 
He  spoke  in  parables,  telling  them  that  only  which  they  could  grasp,  Mark  4:33, 
— "And  with  many  such  parables  spake  He  the  word  unto  them,  as  they  were 
able  to  hear  it" — "as  they  ii'ere  able  to  hear  it"  i.  e.,  as  they  were  able  to  grasp 
and  comprehend  His  explanation.  "But  without  a  parable  spake  He  not  unto 
them:  and  when  they  were  alone,  He  expounded  all  things  to  His  disciples," 
Mark  4:34.  Matt.  13:10-16 — "And  the  disciples  came  and  said  unto  Him, 
Why  speakest  Thou  unto  them  in  parables?"  "He  answered  *  *  *  Be- 
cause it  is  given  unto  you  to  know  the  mysteries  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven, 
but  to  them  it  is  not  given"  *  *  *  "Therefore  speak  I  to  them  in  parables : 
because  they  seeing  see  not;  and  hearing  they  hear  not,  neither  do  they  under- 
stand" *  *  *  "But  blessed  are  your  eyes,  for  they  see:  and  your  ears,  for 
they  hear." 

In  the  days  of  Christ  many  flocked  to  hear  Him,  not  that  they  were  impulsed 
by  any  real  spiritual  motives,  but  because  they  were  curious  to  hear  His  explana- 

16 


tions  and  parables,  and  for  this  reason  He  charged  His  disciples  that  they  were 
not  to  cast  their  pearls  before  swine — meaning  that  they  were  not  to  give  the 
precious  Truth  He  had  taught  them  to  those  who  were  not  seeking  with  their 
whole  heart  to  know  God — and  to  such  as  displayed  a  desire  to  know  the  Truth, 
He  said — "Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you ;  seek  and  ye  shall  find ;  knock,  and  it 
shall  be  opened  unto  you.  For  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth ;  and  he  that  seek- 
eth  findeth ;  and  to  him  that  knocketh  it  shall  be  opened" — Luke,  1 1 :9,  10.  Thus 
clearly  showing  that  the  Truth  was  for  the  truth  seeker  only,  and  which  accords 
also  with  the  word  of  God  spoken  through  the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  Chap.  29, 
verse  13,  "And  ye  shall  seek  me,  and  find  me,  when  ye  shall  search  for  me  with 
all  your  heart."  And  in  the  sermon  on  the  Mount,  Christ  declared,  "Blessed 
are  they  who  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  for  they  shall  be  filled."  The 
hungry  and  thirsty  are  the  wise  mentioned  in  the  12th  Chap,  of  Daniel,  who 
would  understand,  "when  the  secrets  of  God  should  be  revealed." 

A  few  years  ago  there  appeared  in  Shiraz,  in  that  noted  land  of  sacred  his- 
tory, Persia,  a  very  remarkable  young  man  who  proclaimed  himself  to  be  the 
Advancer  of  the  Mighty  One,  Who  would  soon  be  manifested,  supporting  His 
claim  with  the  most  astonishing,  logical  and  convincing  proofs  from  the  Sacred 
Writings.  It  is  needless  to  say  this  amazing  announcement  caused  no  little  stir 
and  commotion  in  that  country.  The  guardians  of  the  Mohammedan  faith,  ap- 
prehensive of  a  general  falling  away  from  the  established  national  religion, 
thought  at  first  to  snuff  out  His  light,  by  simply  denouncing  Him  as  a  re- 
ligious fanatic  or  humbug,  whose  audacity  and  ignorance  were  too  much  beneath 
the  dignity  of  sensible,  intelligent  people  to  notice.  But  His  clear,  ringing  voice, 
tuned  to  the  sweetness  of  Truth;  His  great  and  wonderful  logic;  His  powerful 
arguments;  His  matchless  eloquence  and  His  brilliant  mind  and*  keen  sense  of 
love  and  justice,  won  its  way  too  deeply  into  the  hearts  and  understanding  of  the 
honest,  thinking  people,  to  be  dismissed  with  a  sneer;  and  impulsed  by  an  inde- 
pendent desire  to  hear  and  judge  for  themselves,  many  flocked  around  Him  to 
hear  Him  expound  the  Scriptures,  as  they  had  never  before  heard  them  explained, 
and  were  so  strongly  convinced  of  the  Truth  He  taught,  that  thousands,  high  and 
low,  gave  up  all  they  possessed  to  follow  Him ;  in  many  instances,  submitting  to 
the  most  fiendish  and  atrocious  tortures,  cruel  afflictions  and  horrifying  deaths. 
To  follow  Him  through  all  the  details  of  His  unmitigated  persecutions  would 
consume  more  time  than  we  have  at  our  disposal  at  present.  Our  aim  at  this  time 
is  simply  to  state  the  main  facts  and  furnish  necessary  proofs  that  the  One  we 
are  discussing  is  no  less  a  person  than  the  One  prophesied  in  the  Bible  who 
should  come  and  prepare  the  way  before  the  coming  of  the  Great  Day  of  the 
Lord.  Volumes  have  been  written  by  many  noted  writers  of  today  on  His  won- 
derful missionary  work,  which  any  one  truly  interested  in  this  great  matter  can 
obtain  and  read  for  themselves. 

At  present  we  shall  briefly  state  this  wonderful  person  declared  Himself  in 
Persia  in  the  year  1844  A.  D.,  and  was  known  as  the  BAB,  the  meaning  of  which 
is  gate  or  door.  By  His  followers  He  was  known  as  the  Door  of  Truth,  as 
Christ  in  His  day  said,  "I  am  the  door" — John  10:7,  9.  Through  His  won- 
derful natural  powers  of  oratory,  reason  and  logic,  His  remarkable  knowledge  of 
science  and  the  hidden  meaning  of  the  sacred  writings,  thousands  were  converted 
to  His  doctrine,  to  the  great  consternation,  bitter  animosity  and  deep-rooted 
hatred  of  the  Mohammedan  Leaders,  who,  fearful  of  His  persuasive  influence 
over  their  followers,  instigated  through  'heir  Priestly  efforts  a  State  persecution, 

16 


which  resulted  finally  in  His  judicial  murder  in  the  year  A.  D.  1850.  Several 
prominent  followers  were  executed  with  Him,  their  only  offense  being  their  firm 
refusal  to  recant  or  to  renounce  their  new  faith. 

In  his  book  entitled — "A  Traveler's  Narrative,"  Page  213  (a  history  of  the 
Bab} — Prof.  Browne  of  Cambridge  University,  England,  says: — 

[After  the  Bab  was  killed  several  Babists  were  led  to  be  shot,  among  whom 
was  the  Bab's  uncle,  Haji-Mirza-Seyyid.  The  crowd  called  them  madmen.] 
"Thereupon  Haji  Mulla  Ismail  turned  towards  them  and  said,  'Yes,  we  are 
Babis;  but  mad  we  are  not.  By  God,  O  people,  it  is  for  your  awakening  and 
your  enlightenment  that  we  have  foregone  life,  wealth,  wife  and  child,  and  have 
shut  our  eyes  to  the  world  and  its  citizens,  that  perchance  ye  may  be  warned, 
and  may  escape  from  uncertainty  and  error,  that  ye  may  fall  to  making  enquiry, 
that  ye  may  recognize  the  Truth  as  is  meet,  and  that  ye  may  no  longer  be  veiled 
therefrom.'  Then  he  took  off  his  turban  and  said  to  the  executioner,  'Go  on  with 
thy  work;'  and  the  latter,  filled  with  amazement,  struck  the  fatal  blow"." 

In  those  years,  1850  when  the  Bab  was  killed,  and  1851,  four  thousand  souls 
were  slain,  many  of  them  women  and  children.  Still  Babism  increased,  many 
people  of  all  nations  flocked  to  Persia  to  inquire,  and  became  converted  to  it. 

This  is  an  extract  from  the  pages  of  a  book  written  by  an  eminent  English 
scholar,  historian  and  translator  of  Persian  and  Arabic;  one  who  is  considered 
the  most  reliable  translator  in  these  languages  of  any  in  the  school  of  English 
learning  in  the  present  day,  and,  because  of  this  fact,  he  was  chosen  by  the 
Royal  Asiatic  Association  of  England  to  act  for  them  in  gathering  and  re- 
cording all  the  facts  obtainable  in  connection  with  this  wonderful  personage,  and 
the  fate  which  befell  Him  and  His  followers.  And  we  have  quoted  this  extract 
merely  to  show  that,  although  little  is  known,  by  the  average  person  in  this  coun- 
try, outside  the  believers  in  this  Truth,  of  the  circumstances  attending  the  marvel- 
ous mission  and  cruel  death  of  this  great  and  holy  man,  it  has  been  the  main 
topic  discussed  by  the  people  of  that  country  during  the  last  half  century. 

Now,  as  to  His  identity.  That  God  would  send  His  Messenger  to  prepare 
the  way  before  Him,  has,  according  to  the  prophecies,  been  clearly  shown,  but  the 
time  of  His  coming,  and  the  place  of  His  appearance,  according  to  the  prophecies, 
we  have  not  yet  touched  upon,  but  will  do  so  in  this  Talk.  Right  here  we  want 
to  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  time  and  place  of  these  events  are  clearly  set  forth 
in  the  Bible.  To  come  back  to  the  12th  Chapter  of  Daniel,  we  find  that  ac- 
cording to  the  records  of  history — when  he  (Daniel)  was  given  his  vision,  he 
was  among  the  captives  in  the  Persian  Empire;  and  in  figuring  the  dates,  we 
must  reckon  according  to  the  Persian  time,  or  the  Mohammedan  calendar.  In 
his  vision,  he — Daniel — (12th  Chap.)  saw  three  persons,  "the  one  which  was 
upon  the  waters  of  the  River,"  and  the  other  two,  "the  one  on  this  side  of  the 
bank  of  the  River,  and  the  other  on  that  side  of  the  bank  of  the  River."  Verse 
6,  "And  one  said  to  the  man  clothed  in  linen,  which  was  upon  the  waters  of  the 
River,  How  long  shall  it  be  to  the  end  of  these  wonders?"  Verse  7 — "And  I 
heard  the  man  clothed  in  linen,  which  was  upon  the  waters  of  the  River,  when  he 
held  up  his  right  hand  and  his  left  hand  unto  heaven,  and  sware  by  Him  that 
liveth  forever  that  it  shall  be  for  a  time,  times,  and  an  half;  and  when  He  shall 
have  accomplished  to  scatter  the  power  of  the  holy  people,  all  of  these  things  shall 
be  finished." 

In  this  wonderful  chapter,  there  are  three  persons  and  three  periods  men- 
tioned, viz.:  the  first  period  (in  Ver.  7)  "time,  times  and  an  half;"  the  second 
period  (in  Ver.  11)  "and  from  the  time  that  the  daily  sacrifice  shall  be  taken 

17 


away,  and  the  abomination  that  maketh  desolate  set  up,  there  shall  be  a  thousand 
two  hundred  and  ninety  days;"  and  the  third  period  (in  Ver.  12)  "Blessed  is 
he  that  waiteth,  and  cometh  to  the  thousand  three  hundred  and  five  and  thirty 
days." 

In  considering  this  marvelous  Chapter,  we  shall  at  present  take  up  the  fifth 
and  sixth  verses,  and  first  part  of  the  seventh  verse,  as  they  have  to  do  par- 
ticularly with  the  beginning  of  the  end  of  the  wonders,  which  the  Bab  would 
unfold. 

The  first  part  of  the  seventh  verse,  ending  at  "time,  times  and  an  half" — 
is  the  answer  to  the  question  stating  when  the  end  of  the  wonders  should  be ;  and 
the  last  part  of  the  verse,  to  the  time  when  all  these  things  shall  be  finished,  the 
thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety  days — mentioned  in  Ver.  11.  In  brief,  the  first 
part  of  the  seventh  verse  refers  to  the  time  of  the  appearance  of  The  Messenger 
(the  Bab},  and  the  latter  part  of  the  verse  to  the  time  when  the  Lord  of  Hosts 
would  have  manifested  Himself,  finishing  all  these  things,  ending  the  wonders 
which  up  to  His  day  would  be  veiled  by  the  closed  up  words  and  sealed  book 
of  prophecy,  by  the  breaking  of  the  seals,  as  mentioned  in  Revelation,  and  thus 
revealing  to  the  real  truth  seeker  the  hidden  meaning  of  the  mysterious  ut- 
terances of  the  Scriptures  by  a  clear  interpretation  of  the  symbolic  language 
which  sealed  the  Book. 

In  this  Talk  we  will  consider  the  first  period  mentioned,  as  it  has  to  do 
especially  with  The  Messenger,  the  Bab.  As  before  mentioned,  Daniel  was  in 
Persia  when  this  vision  was  given  to  him,  hence  we  must  reckon  according  to 
Persian  time,  and  also  look  to  that  part  of  the  world  for  the  event  to  take  place, 
as  the  connecting  links,  in  the  next  Talk,  will  fully  confirm. 

Regarding  the  time  of  His  appearance,  the  Angel  told  Daniel  to  "close  the 
Book  and  seal  it  to  the  time  of  the  end" — signifying  that  the  prophecies  could 
not  be  understood  until  the  time  appointed  by  God  for  them  to  be  revealed.  In 
other  words,  the  prophecies  would  be  a  wonder  until  that  time;  then  he,  Daniel, 
asked  how  long  it  would  be  to  the  end  of  those  wonders — and  was  answered, 
"that  it  shall  be  for  a  time,  times  and  an  half." 

Now  according  to  astronomical  reckoning,  a  time  is  360  days,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  Bible  a  day  in  prophecy  stands  for  a  year — see  Ezekiel  4:6 — "And 
thou  shalt  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  house  of  Judah  forty  days ;  I  have  appointed 
thee  each  day  for  a  year."  Also  Numbers  14:34 — 

a  time — which  means  one  time 360 

and  times — which  means  two  times 720 

and  half  a  time — means  one-half  of  360.  .  ...  180 


1,260 

Twelve  hundred  and  sixty  Persian  or  Mohammedan  years.  Their  time  is  Lunar 
time,  354  days  comprising  a  year.  Our  time  is  Solar,  365  days  comprising  a 
year.  In  order  to  better  understand  these  figures  we  will  reduce  their  time  to 
ours  by  a  simple  and  accurate  calculation — 

1260  years  multiplied  by  354  (the  number  of  days  in  the  Mohammedan  year) 
give  us  446,040,  the  total  number  of  days  in  their  1260  years;  and  this  divided 
by  365  (the  number  of  days  in  our  year)  give  us  1222  Solar  or  Christian  years. 
The  Hegira  of  Mohammed,  i.  e.,  the  time  their  year  of  reckoning  began,  was 
in  our  year  A.  D.  622;  so  1222,  the  actual  number  of  years,  when  reduced  to 
our  time,  added  to  622,  gives  us  1844  A.  D.,  the  year  in  which  the  Bab  declared 
Himself — breaking  the  seal  of  the  Book  that  was  closed  and  ending  the  wonders ; 

18 


thereby  fulfilling  the  prophecy  of  Habakkuk  2:2,  3,  "And  the  Lord  answered 
me,  and  said,  Write  the  vision,  and  make  it  plain  upon  tables,  that  he  may  run 
that  readeth  it.  For  the  vision  is  yet  for  an  appointed  time,  but  at  the  end  it 
shall  speak,  and  not  lie ;  though  it  tarry,  wait  for  it ;  because  it  will  surely  come, 
it  will  not  tarry." 

In  that  same  year  a  very  notable  event  occurred  in  this  country  which  is 
well  remembered  by^many  that  are  living  today,  and  many  of  whom  participated 
in  it.  About  that  time,  there  was  in  this  country  a  religious  sect  known  as  the 
"Millerites,"  whose  peculiar  views  and  remarkable  interpretations  of  Scriptural 
Prophecy  won  for  them  no  little  notoriety,  but  whose  mistaken  predictions  and 
disappointed  hopes  (in  the  year  1844)  were  the  cause  of  much  ridicule  and  de- 
rision, joking  among  the  witty  ones,  and  pity,  commiseration  and  sorrow  among 
the  tolerant,  self-satisfied  ones.  In  fact,  through  the  failure  of  their  dearly  cher- 
ished faith  and  expectation,  they  became  the  laughing-stock  of  the  whole  country. 
They^had  figured  on  the  literal  coming  of  the  Lord,  as  described  by  Paul  in 
1st  Thess.,  Chap.  4,  had  set  the  year  and  day  of  His  coming,  announced  it 
publicly,  and  waited  patiently  for  Him.  The  anxiously  awaited  day  came,  but 
the  Lord  they  looked  for  did  not  come,  and  so  they  became  the  butt  and  ridicule 
of  the  scornful  throughout  this  country.  But  in  this  day  these  people  have  the 
respect  and  sympathy  of  those  who  know.  While  they  erred  in  judgment,  they 
at  the  same  time  furnished  convincing  evidence  that  what  had  transpired  in 
Persia  was  the  appointed  prelude  to  the  Great .  Event,  which  they  were  looking 
for  and  expecting  to  take  place  in  this  country.  They  overlooked  The  Messen- 
ger who  was  first  to  come  before  the  great  and  dreadful  day  of  the  Lord,  mis- 
taking the  time  referring  to  the  appearance  of  the  forerunner  for  that  alluding 
to  the  day  of  the  Lord  (or  rather  the  coming  of  Christ).  Though  in  the  eyes 
of  the  world,  their  predictions  apparently  failed,  nevertheless  it  was  no  mere 
speculation  on  their  part,  for  God  certainly  had  revealed  unto  them  in  part 
that  which  was  surely  going  to  take  place.  They  were  like  the  blind  man,  whose 
sight  was  restored  by  Christ,  when  He  "put  His  hands  upon  him,  He  asked 
him  if  he  saw  aught.  And  he  looked  up,  and  said,  I  see  men  as  trees,  walking. 
After  that  He  put  His  hands  again  upon  his  eyes,  and  made  him  look  up;  and 
he  was  restored,  and  saw  every  man  clearly.  And  He  sent  him  away  to  his 
house,  saying,  Neither  go  into  the  town  nor  tell  it  to  any  in  the  town"  (Mark 
8:23-26).  These  people  had  received  but  partial  spiritual  sight,  and  in  their 
hazy  vision  they  saw  The  Messenger  as  the  MIGHTY  ONE  HIMSELF  coming  in 
the  literal  clouds.  Had  they  received  full  sight,  they  would  have  seen  the 
prophecy  clearly,  and  would  not  have  told  it  to  the  people  of  their  town.  Not- 
withstanding, though  their  mistaken  conclusions  incurred  the  odium  of  the  earthly 
wise,  God  will  not  forsake  them  on  that  account,  "for  His  mercy  is  with  them 
that  fear  Him."  These  people  were  godly  people,  and  no  doubt  used,  by  Him, 
for  a  purpose,  as  you  will  clearly  understand  when  you  receive  the  Message  in 
full.  The  fact  that  they  looked  for  His  coming  in  1844  A.  D.  should  carry 
conviction  to  the  mind  of  every  honest  investigator  in  this  country  that  what 
occurred  in  Persia  in  that  year  was  a  complete  fulfillment  of  prophecy,  and 
should  impress  them  with  the  serious  importance  of  heeding  the  warning  words 
of  Christ  regarding  the  day  in  which  we  live — Mark  13:35-37,  "Watch  ye 
therefore;  for  ye  know  not  when  the  Master  of  the  house  cometh,  at  even,  or  at 
midnight,  or  at  the  cockcrowing,  or  in  the  morning:  Lest  coming  suddenly  He 
find  you  sleeping.  And  what  I  say  unto  you  I  say  unto  all,  Watch." 


19 


If  the  majority  of  the  people  but  realized  the  importance  and  deep  signifi- 
cance of  these  words  of  Christ,  they  would  be  prepared  for  sudden  shocks:  "But 
as  the  days  of  Noe  were,  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man  be.  For 
as  in  the  days  that  were  before  the  flood  they  were  eating  and  drinking,  marrying 
and  giving  in  marriage,  until  the  day  that  Noe  entered  into  the  ark,  and  knew 
not  until  the  flood  came,  and  took  them  all  away;  so  shall  also  the  coming  of 
the  Son  of  Man  be"  (Matt.  24:37-39).  Also  Matt.  24:40,  "Then  shall  two  be 
in  the  field ;  the  one  shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left — i.  e.,  the  one  who  is 
seeking  God  shall  find  Him,  but  the  indifferent  and  heedless  one  shall  not  know 
when  He  comes,  consequently  shall  be  left.  When  the  Pharisees  desired  that  He 
would  show  them  a  sign,  Christ  answered  (Matt.  16:1-3)  and  said  unto  them, 
"When  it  is  evening,  ye  say,  it  will  be  fair  weather;  for  the  sky  is  red.  And  in 
the  morning,  it  will  be  foul  wTeather  today;  for  the  sky  is  red  and  lowering. 
O  ye  hypocrites,  ye  can  discern  the  face  of  the  sky;  but  can  ye  not  discern  the 
signs  of  the  times?" 

In  our  last  Talk  we  pointed  to  the  Great  Event  which  was  to  take  place 
in  the  latter  days,  the  coming  of  the  Great  Manifestation  of  God  to  establish, 
here  on  earth,  His  Everlasting  Kingdom,  and  also  the  preceding  event  which 
should  be  looked  for  beforehand ;  the  coming  of  The  Messenger,  who  would 
prepare  the  way  before  Him. 

In  this  Talk  we  have  given  you  a  brief  outline  only,  of  the  latter's  appear- 
ance, His  place  of  birth  and  death.  To  attempt  more  than  this  in  one  short 
Talk  would  not  be  doing  justice  to  Him  or  to  the  great  and  glorious  cause  for 
which  He  sacrificed  His  life.  A  full  account  of  His  private  life,  public  acts  and 
tragic  death,  can  be  had  in  print,  which  any  one  can  obtain  and  read  for  them- 
selves. Of  course  many  noble  acts  and  wonderful  powers  displayed  by  Him  are 
known  but  to  the  believers,  which  the  people  coming  into  this  Truth  can  learn 
from  them  only.  For  the  present  suffice  it  to  say,  He  was  a  most  wonderful 
person  in  every  respect;  though  no  college  graduate,  His  literary  powers  were 
marvelous;  being  a  very  rapid  and  voluminous  writer,  He  left  many  valuable 
documents  behind,  concerning  Spiritual  matters,  which  the  MIGHTY  ONE  who 
would  come  after  Him  would  reveal  and  fully  confirm.  He,  the  Father,  the 
Lord  of  the  Vineyard,  He  who  would  come  "as  a  thief  in  the  night,"  as  in  the 
days  of  Noe,  "when  the  people  would  be  eating  and  drinking,  marrying  and 
giving  in  marriage" — in  short,  when  the  people  of  the  world  would  be  attend- 
ing to  material  affairs  in  the  usual  way,  heedless  and  indifferent  of  the  warnings 
of  Christ  and  the  Prophets,  then  He  would  suddenly  come  to  His  temple — His 
body  of  flesh — come  "as  a  thief  in  the  night." 

And  now  it  becomes  my  delightful  privilege  to  disclose  to  you  the  glad- 
tidings  of  great  joy.  All  these  wonderful  utterances  have  been  fully  verified! 

"The  Lord  whom  we  have  sought  has  suddenly  come  to  His  temple" — 
"The  Lord  who  would  come  down  and  tread  upon  the  high  places  of  the  earth"- — 
the  Great  Manifestation — the  Hope  and  Expectation  of  the  ages — has  come — 
"And  His  secrets  (now)  are  with  them  that  fear  Him,  and  He  has  shown  them 
His  covenant."  He  has  fulfilled  to  the  letter  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah,  Chapter 
28:21  ;  He  has  done  "His  work,  His  strange  work,"  and  brought  "to  pass  His 
act,  His  strange  act." 

Also  Psalms  60:3,  "Thou  hast  shewed  thy  people  hard  things:  Thou  hast 
made  us  to  drink  the  wine  of  astonishment." 

Having  passed  through  a  like  experience  to  that  which  you  are  undergoing, 
we  realize  and  feel  how  astonishing  this  whole  story  must  sound  to  you;  and 

20 


indeed,  what  utterances  that  ever  before  fell  upon  your  ears  can  equal  what 
you  have  just  heard?  Comparisons  are  simply  inadmissible.  You  have  indeed 
been  shown  a  hard  thing,  and  it  is  no  figure  of  speech  to  say  that  the  one  who 
is  not  fully  prepared  to  receive  this  astounding  revelation  will  assuredly  "drink 
the  wine  of  astonishment,"  and  bewilderment  as  well.  Few  people  grasp  and 
comprehend  it  all  at  first  hearing;  in  fact  it  leaves  some  in  such  a  dazed  con- 
dition that  they  don't  know  whether  to  believe  or  not.  Many  will  never  believe; 
as  Christ  said,  "Many  are  called,  but  few  are  chosen"  (the  seeker  must  first 
accept  God  before  God  chooses  him).  Also  Matt.  7:14,  "Because  strait  is  the 
gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way,  which  leadeth  unto  life,  -and  few  there  be  that 
find  it."  The  one  who  disbelieves  and  rejects  this  message,  by  his  act,  confirms 
the  very  thing  which  he  refuses  to  believe,  as  it  is  written  in  the  Book — Habak- 
kuk  1st  Chapter,  5th  Verse — "Behold  ye  among  the  heathen,  and  regard,  and 
wonder  marvelously:  for  I  will  work  a  work  in  your  days,  which  ye  shall  not 
believe,  though  it  be  told  you" 

There  is  much  we  have  to  tell  you  concerning  the  earthly  visit  of  our  GLO- 
RIOUS GOD,  which  cannot  be  told  in  a  few  short  Talks;  and  as  we  are  beings 
limited  to  the  human  station,  beyond  which  we  can  know  nothing,  "without 
that  wisdom  which  is  from  above,"  it  will  be  to  our  personal  advantage  to  ask 
the  Giver  of  all  good  and  perfect  gifts  to  grant  us  wisdom,  knowledge  and  under- 
standing, that  we  may  comprehend  the  great  and  marvelous  things  there  are  for 
us  to  know  if  we  so  desire. 

Ponder  well  what  you  have  just  heard,  and  be  prepared  to  hear  more  won- 
derful things  in  our  next  Talk. 


CHAPTER  3— THE  PRINCE  OF  PEACE. 

In  our  last  Talk  we  gave  a  brief  sketch  of  the  Bab  who  appeared  in  Shiraz, 
Persia,  in  the  year  A.  D.  1844,  and  declared  Himself  as  the  forerunner  or  ad- 
vancer of  Him  "Whom  God  would  manifest;"  touching  hurriedly  upon  the 
main  facts  only  concerning  His  office;  the  date  of  His  appearance  (according 
to  prophecy);  His  wonderful  powers  of  argument;  His  profound  knowledge, 
self-sacrifice,  barbarous  persecution  and  cruel  death ;  and  closing  our  discourse 
with  the  amazing  disclosure  that  the  Lord  of  Hosts  promised  in  the  Bible  had 
already  come;  He  "Who  would  suddenly  come  to  His  temple"  after  The  Mes- 
senger had  prepared  the  way. 

In  delivering  this  part  of  the  message,  we  can  at  this  present  time  state  the 
principal  facts  only,  as  there  is  so  much  to  tell  that  is  beyond  the  capacity  of  human 
beings  to  grasp  and  fully  understand  at  one  hearing.  But  to  the  hungry  seekers 
who  desire  to  know  God  in  reality,  the  bearers  of  this  Great  and  Glorious  Mes- 
sage can  give  all  the  precious  food  they  can  digest,  from  the  Table  of  Divine 
Knowledge,  to  which  they  have  free  and  bountiful  access. 

Christ  said,  Matt.  5  :6,  "Blessed  are  they  which  do  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness:  for  they  shall  be  filled."  And  in  accordance  with  His  blessed 
assurance,  the  opportunity  is  afforded  in  this  day  to  every  one  desiring  to  know 
God  in  reality,  and  to  worship  Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  to  be  instructed  in 
the  way  which  He  has  appointed  and  promised  to  the  earnest  seeker — Jer.  3:15, 
"And  I  will  give  you  pastors  according  to  mine  heart,  which  shall  feed  you 
with  knowledge  and  understanding."  And  in  this  connection  we  are  reminded 
that  God  is  realized  only  through  knowledge  and  understanding;  which  fact  is 
fully  confirmed  by  His  word  spoken  through  the  Prophet  Hosea,  Chapter  4:6, 
"My  people  are  destroyed  for  lack  of  knowledge:  because  thou  hast  rejected 
knowledge,  I  will  also  reject  thee;"  and  the  importance  of  our  attaining  this 
knowledge  He  has  very  emphatically  set  forth  through  the  Prophet  Jeremiah, 
Chapter  9:23,  24 — "Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Let  not  the  wise  man  glory  in  his 
wisdom,  neither  let  the  mighty  man  glory  in  his  might,  let  not  the  rich  man 
glory  in  his  riches:  But  let  him  that  glorieth  glory  in  this,  that  he  under- 
standeth  and  knoweth  Me,  that  I  am  the  Lord  which  exercise  loving  kindness, 
judgment,  and  righteousness,  in  the  earth ;  for  in  these  things  I  delight,  saith  the 
Lord." 

To  know  and  understand  God  intelligently  is  mankind's  highest  attain- 
ment on  this  earth,  and  with  a  proper  exercise  of  the  reasoning  faculties  with 
which  we  are  endowed,  we  are  certain  this  can  never  be  acquired  through  blind 
faith,  superstition  and  imagination,  but  only  by  compliance  with  the  commands 
of  the  Most  High,  who  has  assured  mankind,  Jer.  29:13,  "And  ye  shall  seek  Me, 
and  find  Me,  when  ye  shall  search  for  Me  with  all  your  heart."  And  the  Spirit 
speaking  through  the  Apostle  Paul  expresses  the  same  blessed  assurance,  Romans 
10:13,  "For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved." 
But  if  we  do  not  know  that  Name,  how  can  we  call  upon  Him?  It  is  only  those 
who  have  sincerely  sought  Him  that  shall  know  that  Name.  That  every  one  does 
not  know  it,  is  shown  in  Proverbs  30:4 — "What  is  His  name  and  what  is  His 
Son's  name,  if  thou  canst  tell?"  Other  texts  imply  the  same.  Psalms  91:14, 

2? 


"Because  He  hath  set  his  love  upon  Me,  therefore  will  I  deliver  him:  I  will  set 
him  on  high,  because  he  hath  known  My  Name"  Also  Isa.  52 :6,  "Therefore  my 
people  shall  know  My  Name:  therefore  they  shall  know  in  that  day  that  I  am  He 
that  doth  speak:  behold,  it  is  I."  In  the  14th  and  15th  Verses,  Romans,  10th 
Chapter,  Paul  questions — "How  then  shall  they  call  on  Him  in  whom  they  have 
not  believed?  and  how  shall  they  believe  in  Him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard? 
and  how  shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher?  And  how  shall  they  preach,  except 
they  be  sent?  as  it  is  written,  How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of  them  that  preach 
the  gospel  of  peace,  and  bring  glad  tidings  of  good  things!"  Accordingly  we 
shall  know  the  commissioned  of  God  by  the  glad  tidings  they  bring.  It  has  been 
our  blessed  privilege  to  receive  such  joyful  tidings  from  one  of  God's  witnesses, 
as  mentioned  in  Isa.  43:10  and  11,  "ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  the  Lord,  and  my 
servant  whom  I  have  chosen ;  that  ye  may  know  and  believe  me,  and  understand 
that  I  am  He :  before  m-  there  was  no  God  formed,  neither  shall  there  be  after 
me.  I,  even  I,  am  the  Lord;  and  beside  me  there  is  no  saviour."  And  having 
received  these  Glorious  Tidiirgs  ourselves,  no  greater  happiness  could  be  imparted 
to  us  than  the  delightful  privilege  of  delivering  the  message  to  the  devout  and 
faithful  seekers,  who  have  "eyes  which  see  and  perceive,  ears  which  hear  and  un- 
derstand ;"  for  such  we  are  assured  will  not  be  swayed  by  the  fallible  opinions  of 
man,  but  will  ponder  well  this  wonderful  message,  and  with  earnestness  of  heart 
and  honesty  of  purpose,  thoroughly  investigate  the  truthfulness  of  the  marvelous 
message  we  are  about  to  deliver,  to  the  very  end. 

As  before  mentioned,  the  Bab,  whose  name  was  Ali  Mohammed  (Elias- 
Ali),  was  killed  in  the  year  A.  D.  1850.  Before  His  departure,  He  instructed 
His  followers  as  to  when  the  MIGHTY  ONE  would  appear;  in  fact  stating  in  His 
books  the  precise  date  that  He  would  openly  declare  Himself  to  the  world,  and 
charging  them  to  be  on  the  watch  for  His  coming ;  assuring  them  that  they  would 
surely  know  Him  by  His  wonderful  revelations;  and  admonishing  them  that 
when  such  an  One  did  appear,  to  forthwith  transfer  their  allegiance  to  Him. 

In  A.  D.  1852,  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  promised  in  the  Bible,  the  Great  Mani- 
festation of  God,  appeared  in  Teheran,  Persia,  and  later  to  the  faithful  fol- 
lowers of  the  Bab  disclosed  His  identity,  which  was  duly  recognized  by  them; 
and  He  was  joyfully  accepted  as  the  One  Whom  the  Bab  had  instructed  them 
to  expect. 

Before  taking  up  the  leading  events  which  followed  the  declaration  of 
THE  MANIFESTATION,  let  us  again  refer  to  one  of  the  Bible  passages  quoted  in 
our  First  Talk,  viz.,  Micah  1 :2,  3 — as  follows:  "Hear,  all  ye  people;  hearken, 
O  earth,  and  all  that  therein  is;  and  let  the  Lord  God  be  witness  against  you, 
the  Lord  from  His  Holy  Temple.  For,  behold,  the  Lord  cometh  forth  out  of 
His  place,  and  will  come  down,  and  tread  upon  the  high  places  of  the  earth." 
Observe,  the  command  here  is  for  all  the  people  to  hear,  for  all  the  earth  to 
hearken.  The  command  is  not  addressed  to  the  Jew  only,  or  to  the  Christian,  or 
any  of  the  other  religious  sects,  who  are  looking  for  the  coming  of  their  Promised 
One;  but  is  addressed  to  the  people  of  all  the  nations  and  religions;  hence  the 
One  who  appears  and  puts  forth  the  claim  of  Divinity  must,  of  necessity,  show 
forth  all  the  characteristics,  qualities  and  attributes  of  God;  be  able  to  furnish 
proofs  which  can  be  verified  from  the  text  books  of  all  religions  (of  divine  origin)  ; 
and  possess  the  power  of  drawing  all  hearts  together  and,  by  the  convincing  evi- 
dence of  His  claim,  unite  them  into  one  harmonious  whole.  To  accomplish  this 
miraculous  undertaking,  thoughtful  minds  are  agreed,  would  indeed  require  the 

23 


special  power  and  actual  presence  of  the  Mighty  One  Himself,  and  the  text  just 
quoted  confirms  this  belief  as  it  plainly  states,  "  *  *  *  let  the  Lord  God 
be  witness  against  you,  the  Lord  from  His  Holy  Temple.  For,  behold,  the  Lord 
cometh  forth  out  of  His  place,  and  will  come  down,  and  tread  upon  the  high 
places  of  the  earth." 

It  is  needless  to  say,  all  the  predictions  of  the  Bab  concerning  "Him  Whom 
God  would  manifest"  have,  in  every  particular,  been  completely  fulfilled,  and 
the  Divine  characteristics,  qualities  and  attributes  of  the  BLESSED  PERFECTION" 
fully  manifested  in  the  person  of  BAHA'O'LLAH. 

That  such  a  great  Teacher  was  needed  in  this  age  of  diversified  doctrines, 
creeds,  fads  and  "isms" — what  honest,  thoughtful  person  will  deny?  Mankind 
left  to  his  own  will,  and  following  the  dictates  of  human  desire,  passion  and  lust, 
has  ever  arrived  at  an  alienated  condition  from  His  Lord;  thus  necessitating  a 
Manifestation  of  God  to  reclaim  him  and  teach  him  the  way  of  right  living ;  and 
foreseeing  the  conditions  which  would  obtain  in  the  latter  days,  He  declared 
through  Christ  and  the  Prophets,  that  the  Lord  of  the  Vineyard  would  come 
Himself  and  "make  the  crooked  things  straight;"  "He  whose  going  forth  has 
been  from  of  old  from  everlasting" — the  word  that  was  in  the  beginning,  the 
word  that  was  with  God,  the  word  that  was  God,  the  same  word  would  be  made 
flesh  and  dwell  among  us — (John,  1st  Chap.). 

The  followers  of  BAHA'O'LLAH  claim  and  believe  He  was  that  Word 
manifested  in  the  flesh ;  and  that  all  the  prophecies  relating  to  the  advent  of  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  have  (in  Him)  been  fulfilled  to  the  letter,  supporting  their  claim 
with  the  most  convincing  proofs.  But  the  greatest  of  all  proofs  are  the  Words, 
and  the  works,  the  purity  and  perfection  of  the  beautiful  life  of  BAHA'O'LLAH 
Himself.  That  He  was  the  Divine  Manifestation  promised,  Who  would  appear 
in  the  latter  days,  notwithstanding  the  Rulers  of — "The  people  that  walked  in 
darkness  who  saw  the  great  light,  they  that  dwell  in  the  land  of  the  shadow  of 
death  and  upon  whom  the  light  shined" — as  recorded  in  the  second  verse  of  the 
9th  Chapter  of  Isaiah — failed  to  recognize  "Him  Whom  God  would  manifest," 
as  declared  by  the  Bab;  but  on  the  contrary,  being  led  by  that  flagrant  spirit  of 
hatred  and  malice,  which  found  pleasure  and  satisfaction  only  in  persecuting 
and  killing  the  Bab  and  His  faithful  followers,  they  flashed  the  malevolent 
arrows  of  their  bitter  enmity  against  Him,  and  for  a  number  of  months  con- 
signed Him,  bound  in  chains,  to  the  inclosed  gloom  of  solitude  and  prison  walls. 
But  these  extreme  measures  of  torture,  oppression  and  persecution  did  not  stop 
the  spread  of  His  Heavenly  teachings;  but  on  the  contrary,  served  only  as  a 
powerful  reflector  to  spread  the  Light  more  brilliantly,  which  Light  has  already 
reached  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  To  follow  Him  in  detail  from  Teheran 
to  the  Holy  City,  or  even  to  relate  but  a  very  few  of  the  wonderful  things  we 
have  to  tell,  would  indeed  be  more  than  human  mind  could  absorb  at  one  hearing. 

Like  the  time  of  Christ — "He  (Christ)  spake  to  them  as  they  were  able  to 
hear  it," — i.  e.,  as  they  were  able  to  grasp  and  understand  the  things  He  had  to 
tell  concerning  the  Kingdom.  Our  purpose  in  this  Talk  is  simply  to  give  some 
leading  facts  and  proofs.  Then,  to  those  who  desire  to  hear  more,  we  shall  be 
most  happy  to  gratify  their  wish  at  any  stated  time,  upon  which  we  can  mutu- 
ally agree. 

BAHA'O'LLAH,  most  generally  alluded  to  by  Believers  as  the  "Man- 
ifestation" or  "Blessed  Perfection,"  was  born  in  Teheran  in  the  year  A.  D. 
1817;  and  declared  Himself,  as  before  mentioned,  to  His  notable  followers  in 
the  year  1862.  In  1852  He  was  imprisoned  in  Teheran  four  months,  and  all 

24 


His  personal  property  confiscated.  After  His  release  from  the  prison,  He  was 
sent  to  Bagdad,  where  he  remained  twelve  years ;  from  thence  He  was  sent  to 
Constantinople  under  a  military  escort;  after  a  few  months'  stay  at  the  latter 
place,  He  was  sent  to  Adrianople.  At  Adrianople  he  was  kept  about  five  years; 
after  which  time  He  was  exiled  to  Acre,  a  seaport  in  Syria  on  the  Mediterranean, 
arriving  there  on  August  31st,  1868.  Acre  (or  Akka)  is  a  penal  colony  in  the 
possession  of  the  Sublime  Porte,  the  Sultan  of  Turkey.  It  is  situated  as  described 
in  Psalms  48 :2 — "Beautiful  for  situation,  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,  is  Mount 
Zion,  on  the  sides  of  the  north,  the  City  of  the  great  King."  "On  the  sides  of 
the  north" — i.  e.,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Harbor  of  Haifa  (Syria)  facing 
Mount  Carmel ;  in  the  center  you  might  say  of  the  land  of  prophecies  and  Divine 
Manifestations. 

Between  the  years  1864  and  1868,  Tablets  were  sent  out  by  El-Baha, 
through  special  carriers,  to  the  Crowned  Heads  of  all  the  nations;  to  the  Pope 
of  Rome  and  other  noted  dignitaries ;  notifying  them  that  their  Lord  had  come, 
and  inviting  them  to  partake  of  His  great  Supper;  thus  literally  fulfilling  the 
prophecy  of  Christ,  expressed  in  the  parable  of  the  great  supper,  Luke  14th  Chap- 
ter, beginning  at  the  15th  verse — "And  when  one  of  them  that  sat  at  meat  with 
Him  heard  these  things,  He  said  unto  Him,  Blessed  is  he  that  shall  eat  bread  in 
the  kingdom  of  God," — meaning  material  and  spiritual  bread.  (16th  verse) — 
"Then  said  He  unto  him,  A  certain  man  made  a  great  supper,  and  bade  many: 
And  sent  his  servant  at  supper  time  to  say  to  them  that  were  bidden,  Come ;  for 
all  things  are  now  ready.  And  they  all  with  one  consent  began  to  make  excuse. 
The  first  said  unto  him,  I  have  bought  a  piece  of  ground,  and  I  must  needs  go 
and  see  it :  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused.  And  another  said,  I  have  bought  five 
yoke  of  oxen,  and  I  go  to  prove  them:  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused.  And  another 
said,  I  have  married  a  wife,  and  therefore  I  cannot  come,"  etc.,  etc. — material 
considerations  of  this  ephemeral  life  being  to  them  of  greater  importance  than 
that  which  is  eternal.  Just  here  let  us  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
land,  five  yoke  of  oxen  and  wife,  mentioned  in  these  verses,  have  a  deep  signifi- 
cance (in  a  symbolic  sense)  which  can  be  explained  in  order.  As  a  matter  of 
course  nearly  all  these  invitations  were  treated  with  silent  contempt  by  the  recip- 
ients. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  received  a  most  wonderful  Tablet,  a 
copy  of  which  is  in  our  possession. 

The  Emperor  of  France  made  the  receipt  of  his  first  Tablet  an  occasion  of 
great  swelling  words.  That  Tablet  alone  is  a  sufficient  proof  of  the  Divinity  of 
the  BLESSED  PERFECTION.  It  was  revealed  when  Napoleon  III  was  so  powerful 
that  he  said,  "On  this  Globe  I  am  the  one  God."  In  such  a  time,  the  second 
Tablet  was  sent  him,  and  its  contents  published  over  the  world.  For  his  sneers, 
the  BLESSED  PERFECTION  told  him  in  this  latter  Tablet  that  he  would  lose  his 
kingdom  and  he  himself  die  in  exile.  It  was  published  two  years  before  the 
prophecy  came  to  pass.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  that  remarkable  Tablet, 
which  can  be  found  in  the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Asiatic  Society : 

"Because  of  what  thou  hast  done,  affairs  shall  be  changed  in  thy  kingdom, 
and  the  empire  shall  depart  from  thine  hands  as  a  punishment  for  thine  action. 
Thou  shalt  find  thyself  in  manifest  loss,  and  commotion  shall  seize  the  people; 
then,  unless  thou  ariseth  to  assist  in  this  matter,  and  followest  the  Spirit  in  this 
straight  way — thy  glory  hath  made  thee  proud — by  My  life:  verily,  it  shall  not 
endure,  but  shall  pass  away,  unless  thou  takest  hold  of  this  firm  rope.  We  have 
seen  humiliation  hastening  after  thee  while  thou  art  of  those  who  slept." 

25 


To  comprehend  the  real  import  of  these  words,  we  have  only  to  recall  the 
subsequent  stirring  events  in  France,  in  the  year  1870,  which  doubtless  are  fresh 
in  the  memory  of  all.  Up  to  the  middle  of  the  year  1870,  no  Crowned  Head 
felt  the  dignified  assurance  of  royal  safety  and  security  as  did  the  Emperor  of 
France.  Napoleon  III  believed  himself  and  his  kingdom  to  be  impregnable; 
but  to  quote  the  words  of  a  French  historian,  no  greater  delusion  ever  found 
repose  in  the  breast  of  royalty. 

Regarding  this  particular  time,  Sutherland  Menzies,  in  his  history  of  France 
from  the  earliest  time  to  1 880,  says : 

"In  these  days  a  dictatorship  can  only  be  temporary.  Napoleon  III  knew 
it  well,  and  at  the  same  moment  that  he  took  possession  of  the  throne,  he  had 
promised  that  liberty  should  one  day  crown  the  new  political  edifice.  After 
Solferino  (N.  B. — His  great  victory  over  Francis  Joseph  of  Austria,  1859),  he 
meditated  bringing  it  back  to  French  institutions,  to  which  it  was  recalled  by 
the  increasing  confidence  and  prosperity  of  the  country."  "In  the  midst  of  this 
prophecy  and  these  hopes,  a  storm  suddenly  arose  under  which  the  Empire  foun- 
dered and  France  was  precipitated  into  an  abyss  of  grief  and  misery," — the  war 
against  Prussia,  July,  1870. 

Two  years  before  this,  he,  the  Emperor,  received  these  words  of  warning 
from  the  BLESSED  PERFECTION;  but  he  heeded  them  not,  and  as  a  result,  the 
humiliation  that  He  told  him  was  hastening  after  him,  overtook  him  before 
the  end  of  1870.  In  July  of  that  year,  the  world  was  suddenly  startled  by  the 
amazing  announcement  that  Prussia,  in  that  day  considered,  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world,  an  insignificant  nation,  had  the  boldness  and  temerity,  single-handed,  to 
declare  war  against  the  great  warlike  nation  of  France;  a  nation  which  only  a 
little  over  half  a  century  before,  made  all  Europe  tremble,  and  her  allied  armies 
quake  with  fear  and  dread.  Notwithstanding,  Prussia  demanded  the  Provinces 
of  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  and  served  France  with  notice  that  if  her  demands  were 
not  complied  with  forthwith,  she  would  seize  them  by  force  of  arms;  dignified 
France,  intoxicated  with  the  flattering  memories  of  past  victories,  achieved 
through  the  prowess  and  greatness  of  her  military  standing,  scorned  their  pre- 
sumption, and  to  the  surprise  of  the  world,  Prussia  called  to  arms  1,500,000 
trained  men  to  enforce  her  demands;  the  most  formidable  machinery  of  war  that 
the  world  has  seen. 

Napoleon  marshalled  the  proud  army  of  France  to  meet  his  foe,  but  alas! 
"humiliation  was  hastening  after  him."  The  terrific  shot  and  shell  of  the  deter- 
mined Prussian  threw  the  valiant  columns  of  France  into  helpless  confusion  and 
disorder,  and  like  reapers  in  the  harvest  field,  the  sturdy  soldiers  of  His  Teutonic 
Majesty  mowed  down  the  proud  armies  of  France  like  grass.  Such  tremendous 
slaughter  was  never  before  heard  of,  in  the  space  of  time  in  which  the  engage- 
ments lasted  between  these  two  nations.  War  was  declared  in  July  (1870), 
and  by  the  6th  of  August,  Weissenburg,  Reichshofen  and  Forbach  had  fallen, 
before  the  crushing  advance  of  the  deadly  foe.  On  September  2nd,  the  Emperor 
capitulated  at  Sedan ;  Marshal  Bazaine  at  Metz,  October  26th.  Following  this, 
Strasburg  succumbed  after  a  short  but  sharp  bombardment ;  then,  the  order  was 
given  by  the  victorious  commander  of  the  Prussian  forces,  to  march  to  Paris.  Here 
a  last  determined  resistance  was  made ;  but  in  spite  of  their  courage,  against  dis- 
ciplined and  victorious  soldiers,  the  provincial  armies  were  crushed ;  and  when, 
after  131  days  of  siege,  after  a  month's  bombardment,  famine  forced  Paris  to 
lower  the  drawbridges  of  her  forts,  in  unconditional  surrender,  nothing  more 
remained  but  to  submit  to  the  law  of  the  conqueror;  and  thus  the  glory  of  the 

36 


Proud  Emperor  and  the  greatness  of  his  kingdom  faded  away,  like  snowflakes 
before  the  melting  rays  of  a  summer  sun.  After  the  blood  and  carnage  of  the 
invading  army  had  subsided,  the  subjects  of  the  Emperor  were  seized  with  a 
violent  commotion,  which  resulted  in  the  overthrow  of  the  Monarchy,  and  the 
establishment  of  a  Republic;  which  form  of  government  has  lasted  up  to  the 
present  day.  Finally,  he  sought  refuge  in  England,  where  he  died  (in  exile) 
shortly  after;  as  foretold  by  the  BLESSED  PERFECTION. 

The  facts  connected  with  the  downfall  of  the  last  Monarch  of  France,  and 
the  disruption  of  his  kingdom,  should  be  sufficient  to  awaken  any  thoughtful  mind 
to  a  realization  of  the  Great  Day  in  which  we  are  living;  the  Day  which  has 
witnessed  the  Lord  of  Hosts  among  us. 

The  Franco-Prussian  war  was  the  shortest,  sharpest  and  most  decisive  to 
be  found  in  the  annals  of  history.  And  why?  Because  the  Lord  of  Hosts  de- 
clared "humiliation  was  hastening  after  the  Emperor;  that  his  Empire  would 
depart  from  him;  that  commotion  should  seize  the  people,  unless  he  arose  to 
assist  in  the  Cause  of  the  Righteous  and  follow  the  Spirit  in  the  right  way ;  that 
his  glory  had  made  him  proud ;  but  it  should  not  endure,  but  should  pass  away, 
unless  he  was  moved  to  take  hold  of  the  firm  rope." 

The  Shah  of  Persia  received  a  most  wonderful  Tablet,  dealing  with  the 
religious  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people.  The  messenger  who  delivered  it  was 
seized  by  the  Royal  Guards  and  put  to  death  in  the  most  fiendish  manner. 
While  it  is  not  claimed  that  the  act  was  in  compliance  with  the  command  of  the 
Shah,  nevertheless  His  Highness  did  not  interfere  to  prevent  the  extreme  cruelties 
inflicted,  which  ended  in  a  slow  and  tortuous  death.  It  is  a  remarkable  coinci- 
dence that  both  the  Shah  of  Persia  and  the  Sultan  of  Turkey,  under  whose  re- 
spective rule  these  barbarous  persecutions  were  sanctioned,  should  both  be  sud- 
denly cut  off  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin.  The  Sultan  and  several  of  his  Cabinet 
Ministers  were  murdered,  as  you  know,  while  holding  a  cabinet  meeting,  about 
the  close  of  the  Turko-Russian  war  in  1876,  and  the  Shah  in  the  spring  of  1896, 
in  the  midst  of  his  Jubilee  Celebrations.  The  latter  event  must  be  fresh  in  the 
memory  of  all,  as  our  daily  papers  gave  full  and  graphic  accounts  of  the  tragic 
affair. 

The  Queen  of  England  condescended  to  send  a  polite  reply  to  the  effect  that, 
"if  He  were  God,  nothing  could  overthrow  Him  or  His  teachings,  but  if  He 
were  not,  He  would  come  to  naught;"  or  words  to  that  effect.  In  reply  the 
BLESSED  PERFECTION  assured  her  that  she  would  enjoy  a  long  and  prosperous 
reign ;  and  we  all  know  that  this  has  been  fully  verified,  as  no  Crowned  Head  of 
England  reigned  so  long  as  Queen  Victoria. 

The  Russian  Government  also  showed  due  courtesy;  and  it  is  remarkable 
to  note  that  no  nation  in  the  world  has  advanced  as  she  has  during  the  past 
thirty  years;  her  population  has  been  doubled,  and  her  territory  almost  trebled. 
These  are  facts  which  can  be  had  from  statistics.  It  is  also  remarkable  that  the 
Czar  of  Russia  should  be  the  first  to  call  a  Peace  Conference  of  all  the  nations. 

Regarding  the  prophecies  concerning  the  place  and  time  of  the  Lord's  com- 
ing, we  shall  at  this  present  time  quote  a  few  passages  to  show  that  the  events 
we  have  so  far  related  are  in  exact  accord  with  the  Scriptures.  We  read  in 
Hosea,  Chapter  2,  Verse  15:  "And  I  will  give  her  her  vineyards  from  thence, 
and  the  valley  of  Achor  for  a  door  of  hope;  and  she  shall  sing  there,  as  in  the 
days  of  her  youth,  and  as  in  the  day  when  she  came  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt." 
And  in  Isaiah  65:10 — "And  Sharon  shall  be  a  fold  of  flocks,  and  the  valley  of 
Achor  a  place  for  the  herds  to  lie  down  in,  for  my  people  that  have  sought  me." 

27 


The  "herds"  and  "flocks"  in  prophecy  refer  to  people,  as  shown  in  Ezekiel  34:31, 
as  follows:  "And  ye  my  flock,  the  flock  of  my  pasture,  are  men,  and  I  am  your 
God,  saith  the  Lord  God."  Accordingly  Achor  is  to  be  a  door  of  hope  for  the 
people  of  God ;  a  place  for  His  people  to  lie  down  in,  who  have  diligently  sought 
Him;  where  they  may  rest  in  a  real,  true  knowledge  of  God ;  and  through  which 
door  shall  go  forth  the  uplifting  word  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  (N. 
B. — This  is  the  same  Acre  mentioned  in  history,  that  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion, 
King  of  England,  with  his  French  allies,  besieged  for  two  years  from  A.  D.  1187, 
during  the  holy  wars  of  the  Crusade.  It  was  at  this  same  Acre  where  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  met  his  real  defeat  in  1799  A.  D.,  as  recorded  among  his  sayings: 
"The  slightest  circumstances  produce  the  greatest  events,"  said  Napoleon.  "Had 
St.  Jean  d'  Acre  fallen,  I  should  have  changed  the  face  of  the  world ;"  and  again, 
"The  fate  of  the  East  lay  in  that  small  town." 

In  that  obscure  but  remarkable  place,  the  triumphant  march  of  the  re- 
nowned infidel,  who  hoped  to  rule  the  world,  was  checked ;  there  indeed,  and 
not  at  Waterloo,  as  generally  supposed,  was  his  lofty  ambition  crushed  and  all 
hope  of  realizing  his  cherished  dream  destroyed.  And  there,  t«o,  in  the  next  cen- 
tury, was  the  Glorious  Standard  of  God  raised  to  wave  in  the  breeze  of  justice, 
love  and  universal  peace,  over  the  people  of  all  the  earth.  Infidelity,  arrayed  in 
all  the  glory  of  grandeur  of  Imperial  Greatness,  nourished  by  popular  admira- 
tion and  the  widespread  flatteries  of  like  aspirants,  encouraged  by  military  suc- 
cess, and  supported  by  national  enthusiasm,  and  the  most  formidable  army  the 
world  had  ever  seen,  met  with  its  downfall  at  Acre.  And  the  spirit  of  the 
GREAT  GOD,  arrayed  in  the  modesty  and  simplicity  of  spiritual  attire,  lowli- 
ness, meekness  and  humility,  oppressed  and  persecuted  by  Kings  and  Princes, 
misrepresented,  maligned  and  villified  by  national  animosity,  and  the  wide-spread 
antagonism  of  the  most  diversified  army  of  creeds,  doctrines,  fads  and  isms  the 
world  has  ever  seen,  arose  at  Achor,  to  shine  forth  in  all  the  fullness  of  its 
splendor,  grandeur  and  magnificence,  and  to  reflect  its  brilliant  rays  of  tran- 
scendent light,  to  enlighten  and  uplift  humanity,  through  the  Chosen  Mirror,  the 
Prisoner  and  Exile,  the  Aspersed  and  Persecuted  BAHA'O'LLAH. 

Many  wonder  why  He,  who  is  all  powerful  both  in  heaven  and  on  earth, 
should  tolerate  the  wrongs  imposed  upon  Him  when  by  the  utterance  of  a  single 
word  He  could  stop  it.  In  answer  to  this,  we  can  only  remind  you  that  He 
was  to  come  as  the  "Prince  of  Peace ;"  and  coming  as  such,  He  must  under  all 
circumstances  show  forth  corresponding  qualities  and  attributes ;  in  fact,  the  great 
sign  by  which  the  PRINCE  would  be  known  would  be  by  the  manifestation  of 
these  very  qualities  and  attributes.  And  as  the  tree  is  known  by  its  fruits,  we 
know  that  BAHA  was  that  Prince,  by  his  qualities  and  attributes;  for  to  those 
who  reviled  Him,  He  reviled  not  again;  He  loved  them  that  hated  Him;  did 
good  to  them  that  despitefully  used  Him ;  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the  attain- 
ment of  knowledge  and  science,  the  like  of  which  is  not  to  be  obtained  in  all 
the  colleges  and  libraries  of  the  world. 

In  the  24th  Chapter  of  Matt.,  Christ,  speaking  of  these  days,  said:  "Be- 
hold, I  have  told  you  before.  Wherefore  if  they  shall  say  unto  you,  Behold, 
He  is  in  the  desert ;  go  not  forth ;  behold,  He  is  in  the  secret  chambers ;  believe  it 
not.  For  as  the  lightning  cometh  out  of  the  east,  and  shineth  even  unto  the 
west,  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be.  For  wheresoever  the  carcase 
is,  there  will  the  eagles  be  gathered  together."  Here  Christ  reminds  us  that  He 
shall  come  from  the  East.  As  the  material  Sun  rises  in  the  East,  to  light  the 
physical  world,  so  also  the  Sun  of  Truth  will  rise  in  the  East,  to  shine  forth  its 

28 


spiritual  light,  and,  "wheresoever  the  carcase  is,  there  will  the  eagles  be  gathered 
together."  The  second  Chapter  of  Daniel  also  gives  us  to  understand  that  He 
will  appear  in  Persia  (the  East).  And  the  word  of  God,  speaking  through  the 
Prophet  Jeremiah,  49:38,  emphatically  declared,  "And  I  will  set  my  throne  in 
Elam  (Persia),  and  will  destroy  from  thence  the  king  and  the  princes,  saith  the 
Lord." 

At  the  time  of  this  prophecy,  Elam  formed  a  part  of  Persia  (as  may  be 
seen  by  referring  to  the  Bible  Atlas),  extending  from  above  the  head  waters  of 
the  Persian  Gulf,  to  its  western  boundary;  that  section  of  territory  which  today 
takes  in  the  capital  city,  Teheran,  the  place  where  BAHA'O'LLAH,  The  Great 
Prince,  The  Manifestation  of  God,  first  appeared.  The  same  spot  where  the 
Prophet  Daniel  was  given  his  wonderful  vision,  confirming  the  above  prophecy  of 
Jeremiah,  in  the  most  emphatic  and  convincing  manner,  giving  the  exact  place 
and  date  of  the  beginning  of  the  New  Dispensation,  where,  and  when,  He  would 
set  His  Throne,  as  recorded  in  the  8th  Chapter  of  Daniel,  2nd,  13th  and  14th 
Verses.  "And  I  saw  in  a  vision ;  and  it  came  to  pass,  when  I  saw,  that  I  was  at 
Shushan  in  the  palace,  which  is  in  the  Province  of  Elam;"  (Daniel  8:2) — "In 
the  Palace  at  Shushan" — Shushan,  i.  e.,  the  Capital  City  of  the  King.  And  is  it 
not  somewhat  significant  that  BAHA'O'LLAH  declared  Himself  in  the  Capital 
City  of  the  Persian  Kingdom  in  this  day?  Verses  13  and  14,  8th  Chapter  of 
Daniel,  refer  to  the  date  of  the  second  coming.  In  this  vision  of  Daniel's,  he 
asked  that  certain  Saint,  how  long  it  should  be  that  both  the  sanctuary  and  the 
host  be  trodden  under  foot,  and  he  answered :  "Two  thousand  and  three  hundred 
days ;  then  shall  the  sanctuary  be  cleansed."  This  prophecy  dates  from  the  20th 
year  of  the  reign  of  Artaxerxes ;  that  is  to  say,  in  the  year  299  of  the  foundation 
of  Rome,  or  456  years  before  Christ;  thus  2300  minus  456  equals  1844;  or  vice 
versa,  1844  plus  456  equals  2300.  By  figures  we  are  brought  to  the  year  1844 
of  our  era,  or  the  year  1260  of  the  Hegira  of  the  Prophet  Mohammed,  whose 
Caliph  successors  conquered,  and  have  occupied,  to  this  day,  the  Holy  Land,  and 
trodden  the  Holy  City  under  foot  forty  and  two  months — 1260  years. 

The  8th  and  9th  Chapters  of  Daniel  are  wonderful  chapters  containing 
prophecies  of  the  first  and  second  coming  of  Christ.  To  explain  them  fully 
here,  would  occupy  too  much  time  and  space;  but  some  time  in  the  future  the 
Author  hopes  he  may  have  that  pleasure. 

Christ  did  not  give  any  date  Himself,  but  when  asked  the  question  referred 
them  to  Daniel.  Matt.  24:3 — "And  as  He  sat  upon  the  mount  of  Olives,  the 
disciples  came  unto  Him  privately,  saying,  Tell  us,  when  shall  these  things  be? 
and  what  shall  be  the  sign  of  Thy  coming,  and  of  the  end  of  the  world  ?  After 
cautioning  them  about  certain  deceptions  which  would  be  employed  to  deceive 
the  people,  and  against  which  they  were  to  be  guarded,  He  refers  them  to  Daniel 
for  their  answer,  12th  Chapter,  llth  Verse,  as  follows:  (Matt.  24:15),  "When 
ye  therefore  shall  see  the  abomination  of  desolation,  spoken  of  by  Daniel  the 
Prophet,  stand  in  the  holy  place  (whoso  readeth,  let  him  understand)." 

•In  our  last  Talk  we  referred  to  this  same  passage;  calling  your  attention 
to  the  fact  that  three  distinct  periods  were  mentioned  in  that  Chapter,  viz.: 
Time,  times  and  an  half;  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety  days;  and 
the  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  five  and  thirty  days.  The  first  referred 
to  the  time  the  Bab  would  appear,  which  figures  1844;  the  second  period,  which 
is  found  in  the  llth  Verse,  refers  to  BAHA'O'LLAH,  the  Manifestation — and 
which  reads  as  follows:  "And  from  the  time  that  the  daily  sacrifice  shall  be 

29 


taken  away,  and  the  abomination  that  maketh  desolate  set  up,  there  shall  be  a 
thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety  days." 

The  time  of  the  daily  sacrifice  refers  to  the  Jewish  sacrifice.  They  had 
a  daily  sacrifice,  a  weekly,  monthly  and  yearly  sacrifice.  This  sacrifice  was 
taken  away  from  Jerusalem  in  the  time  of  Titus,  who  took  the  city  and  de- 
stroyed the  temple ;  which  had  been  destroyed  before  and  had  been  rebuilt.  When 
this  event  happened,  although  they  could  not  worship  in  the  city  itself,  still  they 
secretly  observed  the  daily  sacrifice  throughout  Syria.  Later  they  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  re-entering  Jerusalem ;  and  although  they  could  not  rebuild  the  temple, 
they  observed  their  daily  sacrifice  in  secret  in  the  city.  Now  this  continued  until 
Islam  arose,  which  was  in  the  year  A.  D.  622;  fifteen  years  after  the  rise  of 
Islam,  its  Omar  entered  Jerusalem,  destroyed  the  daily  sacrifice,  and  com- 
pletely degraded  the  Jews,  by  making  a  compact  with  the  Archbishop  against 
the  Jews;  so  that  they  would  not  be  permitted  to  remain,  or  to  worship,  in  Syria. 
This  was  the  time  when  Omar  (Mohammedan  Caliph)  built  the  Mohammedan 
Temple  on  the  site  of  the  Jewish  Temple  (Temple  of  Solomon). 

The  angel  told  Daniel  that  from  the  time  the  daily  sacrifice  should  be 
taken  away,  and  the  abomination  of  desolation  set  up,  would  be  1290  days,  and 
1290  days,  reduced  to  our  time,  equals  1251  plus  622  plus  15,  equals  1888; 
the  year  mentioned  in  Daniel  when  all  these  things  should  be  finished.  In  that 
same  year,  which  is  equal  to  the  Hegira  1305,  the  Sultan  gave  BAHA'O'LLAH 
freedom  to  go  outside  the  city  wall ;  and  His  first  act,  when  given  His  liberty, 
was  to  go  to  Zion — Mount  Carmel — and  pitch  His  tent,  where  he  received 
those  who  sought  Him;  teaching,  counseling  and  advising  all  who  called  upon 
Him,  for  spiritual  enlightenment;  thus  fulfilling  the  prophecy  in  Daniel,  and 
also  in  Isaiah  2:2,  3 — "And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days,  that  the 
mountain  of  the  Lord's  house  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the  mountains, 
and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills;  and  all  nations  shall  flow  unto  it.  And 
many  people  shall  go  and  say,  Come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of 
the  Lord,  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob;  and  He  will  teach  us  of  His  ways, 
and  we  will  walk  in  His  paths ;  for  out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the 
word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem." 

The  BLESSED  PERFECTION  married  and  raised  a  family,  who  accompanied 
Him  in  His  exile.  In  our  next  Talk  we  will  have  occasion  to  speak  more  fully 
concerning  the  different  Branches,  especially  of  the  Greatest  Branch — He 
who  hath  branched  from  the  Ancient  Root — and  the  prophecies  in  the  Bible 
referring  to  Him. 

In  1892  BAHA'O'LLAH  passed  away;  and  19  years  before,  prophesied 
the  date  of  His  departure.  He  wrote  many  volumes  which  shall  soon  be  trans- 
lated into  the  different  languages,  for  the  world  to  read ;  and  left  behind  writ- 
ten laws  and  ordinances,  to  guide  the  people;  and  which  ere  long  shall  rule 
and  govern  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth. 

The  following  quotations  from  His  precepts  in  the  Hidden  Words  will 
serve  to  show  the  beauty  and  purity  of  His  wonderful  expression: 

"O  Friends! 

"Plant  not  but  flowers  of  Love  in  the  garden  of  the  mind;  and  withdraw 
not  thine  hand  from  holding  to  the  Nightingale  of  Affection  and  Yearning. 
Esteem  the  companionship  of  the  just;  but  withdraw  both  thy  mind  and  thy 
hand  from  the  friendship  of  the  wicked. 

so 


"O,  Son  of  the  Soil! 

"The  wise  among  the  people  are  those  who  speak  not  unless  they  find  a 
listener;  as  the  cup-bearer  never  offers  a  cup  unless  he  finds  one  desiring  it,  and 
as  the  lover,  who,  unless  he  has  attained  to  the  Beauty  of  the  Beloved,  never 
cries  out  from  the  depth  of  his  soul.  Therefore,  ye  also  should  sow  the  grains 
of  Knowledge  and  Wisdom  in  the  holy  ground  of  the  mind,  and  conceal  them 
there  until  the  Hyacinth  of  Divine  Wisdom  springs  up  in  thine  heart,  and  not 
in  the  clay." 

"O,  My  Servant! 

"Shake  off  the  fetters  of  worldly  possessions,  and  free  thyself  from  the 
prison  of  Self.  Seize  the  opportunity,  because  thou  shalt  never  see  this  time 
again,  nor  shalt  thou  find  a  similar  opportunity." 

"O,  Emigrants! 

"The  tongue  is  specially  for  Commemoration,  pollute  it  not  with  slander. 
If  ye  be  conquered  by  fiery  passion,  occupy  yourself  with  mentioning  your  own 
faults,  and  not  with  slandering  My  creatures;  because  everyone  is  more  con- 
scious of  and  better  informed  of  his  own  soul  than  of  the  souls  of  My  servants." 

This — an  extract  from  a  Tablet: 

"Defile  not  the  tongue  with  cursing  or  the  execration  of  any  one,  and  guard 

the  eye  from  that  which  is  not  seemly Be  not  a  cause  of  grief,  much  less 

of  strife  and  sedition.  It  is  hoped  that  ye  will  be  nurtured  in  the  shade  of  the 
Lotus  tree  of  Divine  Grace,  and  practice  that  which  God  desireth.  Ye  are  all 
leaves  of  one  tree  and  drops  of  one  sea." 

"O,  Friends! 

"Consort  with  all  the  people  of  the  world  with  joy  and  fragrance.  If 
there  be  to  you  a  word  or  essence  whereof  others  than  you  are  devoid,  com- 
municate it  and  show  it  forth  in  the  language  of  affection  and  kindness;  if  it 
be  received  and  be  effective,  the  object  is  attained ;  and  if  not,  leave  it  to  him,  and 
with  regard  to  him,  deal  not  harshly,  but  pray.  The  language  of  love  is  the 
lodestone  of  hearts  and  the  food  of  the  soul ;  it  stands  in  the  relation  of  ideas  to 
words,  and  is  an  horizon  for  the  shining  of  the  Sun  of  Wisdom  and  Knowl- 
edge." 

BAHA'O'LLAH  says  in  His  Books: 

"Is  it  possible  that  a  reasonable  man  would  make  a  declaration  rendering 
him  ridiculous  to  everybody,  unless  that  man  were  sustained  by  God?  They 
have  made  conjectures  that  I  have  had  in  view  the  immortalizing  of  My  Name, 
but  is  it  possible  one  uncertain  of  living  until  the  morrow  would  work  for 
nothing  but  his  glory?  I  have  always  seen  the  sword  hanging  over  my  head. 
If  God  ought  to  punish  you  because  you  have  believed  in  Me,  from  what  motive 
would  He  have  refrained  from  punishing  you  for  your  previous  belief?  Give  your 
proofs.  What  are  the  proofs  that  make  you  believe  in  God  to-day?  and  what 
are  the  proofs  which  make  you  refuse  to  believe  in  Me?" 

As  before  mentioned,  He  departed  in  the  year  1892;  and  delivered  the 
Kingdom  to  His  eldest  son,  ABDUL-BAHA  ABBAS,  as  foretold  in  the  Bible, 
in  different  places,  notably:  Psalms  89:26,  27,  "He  shall  cry  unto  me,  Thou 
art  my  father,  my  God,  and  the  rock  of  my  salvation.  Also  I  will  make  him 
my  first-born,  higher  than  the  kings  of  the  earth."  Psalms  2:2,  "The  kings  of 
the  earth  set  themselves  against  the  Lord  and  against  His  anointed,  saying,  Let 


us  break  their  bands  asunder,  and  cast  away  their  cords  from  us."  Psalms  2  :$ 
7 — "Yet  have  I  set  my  king  upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion.  I  will  declare  the 
decree:  The  Lord  hath  said  unto  me,  Thou  art  my  Son;  this  day  have  I  be- 
gotten thee."  Zechariah  6:12,  13 — "And  speak  unto  him,  saying,  Thus  speaketh 
the  Lord  of  hosts,  saying,  Behold  the  man  whose  name  is  The  BRANCH;  and 
he  shall  grow  up  out  of  his  place,  and  he  shall  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord: 
Even  he  shall  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord ;  and  he  shall  bear  the  glory,  and 
shall  sit  and  rule  upon  his  throne ;  and  he  shall  be  a  priest  upon  his  throne ;  and 
the  counsel  of  peace  shall  be  between  them  both."  And  it  is  a  known  fact,  that 
the  BLESSED  PERFECTION  always  consulted  with  the  Greatest  Branch,  "The 
man  whose  name  is  The  Branch/'  who  to-day  is  the  Lord  and  Master  of  the 
Father's  Kingdom  on  this  earth,  the  same  one  whom  the  Christian  Church  is 
looking  for  and  expecting  to  come,  and  like  the  Father,  He  is  also  a  prisoner 
in  the  Holy  City!  and  His  own  brothers  are  against  Him,  as  foretold  in  the  Bible, 
Psalms  69:7,  8,  9 — "Because  for  thy  sake  I  have  borne  reproach;  shame  hath 
covered  my  face.  I  am  become  a  stranger  unto  my  brethren,  and  an  alien  unto 
my  mother's  children.  For  the  zeal  of  thine  house  hath  eaten  me  up;  and  the 
reproaches  of  them  that  reproached  thee  are  fallen  upon  me. 

In  our  next  Talk  you  will  hear  more  concerning  the  GREAT  KING,  whose 
possessions  extend  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth,  with  additional  Bible 
proofs,  which  no  sane  man  can  ignore  or  reject. 


32 


CHAPTER  4.— THE  MAN  WHOSE  NAME  IS  "THE  BRANCH." 

As  has  been  clearly  shown  in  former  Talks,  the  essence  of  the  Bible  is 
the  coming  of  God  and  His  Christ,  in  the  latter  days;  to  set  up  His  everlasting 
Kingdom  on  earth;  and  that  preceding  the  event,  His  Messenger  would  appear 
to  prepare  the  way  before  Him.  So  that  in  considering  this  great  subject,  three 
important  persons  are  to  be  taken  into  account:  The  Messenger,  THE 
PRINCE  OF  PEACE  and  the  man  whose  name  is  The  BRANCH;  and  all 
three  must  agreeably  link  together,  in  order  to  form  a  harmonious,  complete  and 
perfect  chain.  As  the  strength  of  a  chain  is  measured  by  its  weakest  link,  there- 
fore, to  be  perfect,  all  the  links  must  be  equal  in  strength.  So  likewise,  each 
respective  link  in  the  chain  of  events  we  have  been  considering  must  of  neces- 
sity be  regarded  as  of  equal  importance,  in  order  to  complete  the  perfect  chain 
of  evidence  required  to  confirm  and  establish — beyond  all  doubt  or  dispute — 
the  Great  Truth  which,  in  importance  to  mankind,  transcends  all  things  else. 
And  in  our  analysis  of  this  Great  Question,  we  found  that  The  Messenger — Elias 
— corresponded  with  the  Bab;  The  Prince  of  Peace  with  BAHA'O'LLAH,  and 
the  Anointed  One — the  Man  Whose  Name  is  The  Branch — with  Abdul- 
Baha  Abbas.  The  latter,  Who  is  the  chosen  servant  of  God,  to  confirm  His 
covenant,  is,  as  we  have  told  you,  with  us  to-day,  the  Guiding  Star  of  Believers, 
and  their  Beloved  Lord  and  Master.  He  is  that  King  Who  to-day  sits  upon 
the  Father's  Throne  "in  the  Holy  Hill  of  Zion"  at  Acca;  the  "Priest  who  shall 
build  up  the  Temple  of  the  Lord,"  and  the  interpreter  of  the  words  of  God; 
which  the  Angel  told  Daniel  "to  shut  up  and  seal  to  the  time  of  the  end,"  at 
which  time  the  seal  would  be  loosened,  and  the  Book  opened  by  Him,  the  only 
one  who  in  the  latter  day  should  "prevail  to  open  the  Book,  and  loose  the  seals 
thereof,"  as  mentioned  in  the  5th  Chapter  of  Revelation. 

The  Bible  is  no  longer  a  mystery;  its  miracles  and  so-called  fairy  tales, 
so  flippantly  denounced  and  rejected  by  higher  critics,  no  longer  perplex,  con- 
fuse and  confound  the  subjects  of  the  Great  King,  who  sits  and  rules  upon  the 
Throne  of  Glory,  crowned  with  a  brilliant  halo  of  Divine  Knowledge,  who 
lights  up  the  darkened  understanding  of  all  who  seek,  and  who  ask,  and  who 
knock,  with  sincerity.  The  so-called  miracles  and  fairy  tales,  which  "are  as 
foolishness  unto  the  learned  and  great,"  seen  through  the  light  of  His  revela- 
tion, become  symbols  of  enlightenment;  which  give  a  key  to  unlock  the  mys- 
teries of  the  sacred  writings ;  and  without  which  key,  the  Book  is  effectually  sealed 
and  locked  up. 

At  the  close  of  our  last  Talk,  we  informed  you  of  the  departure  of  the 
Manifestation — BAHA'O'LLAH,  and  the  succession  of  His  eldest  son,  the 
Greatest  Branch,  Abdul-Baha,  and  quoted  a  few  passages  from  the  Bible, 
referring  to  this  time;  also  stating  that  more  proofs  would  follow  in  this  Talk. 
To  give  all  the  proofs  which  have  been  presented  to  us  would  be  impossible  at 
one  hearing,  or  indeed  at  many  hearings.  To  the  earnest  seeker  there  is  no  end 
of  proofs  to  be  gathered  from  an  honest  investigation  of  the  Great  Question. 
But  as  our  time  is  limited,  we  shall  quote  just  a  few  striking  proofs  which  no 
thoughtful  mind  can  ignore  or  reject. 

33 


Concerning  the  departure  and  succession,  we  desire  to  call  your  attention 
to  a  most  wonderful  prophetic  passage,  in  what  may  perhaps  be  the  oldest  Book 
of  which  you  have  heard  or  seen.  We  refer  to  the  Book  of  the  Secrets  of  Enoch. 
As  you  are  aware,  the  Christian's  Bible  refers  to  Enoch  as  having  walked  with 
God;  and  His  prophecy  of  the  coming  of  God  with  ten  thousand  saints.  But 
strange  to  relate,  it  does  not  give  us  the  Book  of  Enoch ;  nevertheless,  His  writ- 
ings are  still  extant,  and  will  be  a  great  surprise  to  the  earnest  seeker  of  Divine 
Knowledge,  who  reads  His  Book  in  connection  with  the  Great  Truth — "the 
knowledge  of  the  Glory  of  God  which  ere  long  shall  cover  the  earth  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea." 

The  fact  that  this  Book  has  been  unheard  of  for  centuries,  and  has  only 
been  discovered  during  the  past  decade,  is  in  itself  a  most  wonderful  evidence 
of  its  sacred  importance;  and  when  considered  in  connection  with  the  utterances 
contained  in  its  pages,  one  is  compelled  to  admit  that  here  is  something  there 
is  no  getting  away  from.  That  it  should  come  to  Believers  through  an  out- 
side channel,  at  this  particular  time,  is  also  very  remarkable;  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  fly  leaf,  as  follows: 

"The  Book 

of  the 

Secrets  of  Enoch 
Translated   from   the  Slavonic 

by 

W.  R.  Morfill,  M.  A. 
Reader   in    Russian   and   other    Slavonic   Languages — 

And 
Edited  with   Introduction,   Notes  and   Indices 

By 

R.   H.  CHARLES,  M.  A. 
Trinity  College,  Dublin — and  Exeter  College,  Oxford. 


Oxford 

At  the  Clarendon  Press 
1896." 


As  it  is  important  to  understand  the  date  of  its  discovery,  and  a  brief  his- 
tory of  the  Book  itself,  we  herewith  quote  from  the  Preface  as  follows: 

"PREFACE. 

The  Book  of  the  Secrets  of  Enoch  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest  to  students 
of  Apocalyptic  literature,  and  of  the  origins  of  Christianity.  It  is  with  a  view 
to  help  such  that  this,  the  first  edition  of  the  book,  has  been  undertaken.  In 
certain  respects,  it  will  appeal  also  to  specialists  in  Assyriology.  So  far  indeed 
as  it  does  so,  I  have  been  able  to  do  little  more  than  refer  to  the  leading 
scholars  in  this  department,  as  my  knowledge  of  such  subjects  is  very  slight, 
and  all  second-hand. 

This  book  has  had  a  peculiar  history.  For  more  than  1,200  years,  it  has 
been  unknown  save  in  Russia,  where  acquaintance  with  it  goes  several  centuries 
back.  Further,  by  its  present  name,  it  was  never  known  in  any  literature  save 
the  Slavonic.  Even  in  Slavonic  the  name  was  not  quite  constant,  if  we  may 
trust  one  of  the  MSS  (B)  ;  for  there  it  appears  as  "The  Secret  Boob  of  God 

34 


which  were  shown  to  Enoch."  And  yet  the  Book  was  much  read  in  many 
circles,  in  the  first  three  centuries  of  the  Church,  and  has  left  more  traces  of 
its  influence  than  many  a  well-known  Book  of  the  same  literature  (see  section 
5)  and  it  is  undoubtedly  of  much  greater  importance  in  respect  of  exegesis.  In 
its  Greek  form,  it  passes  current  probably  under  the  general  designation  of 
Enoch.  Occasionally  we  find  that  it  was  not  distinguished  by  those  who  used 
it  from  the  older  Book  which  has  come  down  to  us  through  the  Ethiopic.  We 
have,  in  fact,  in  this  Book,  another  fragmentary  survival  of  the  literature  that 
once  circulated  under  the  name  of  Enoch. 

That  such  a  Book  has  ever  existed,  was  not  known  in  Western  Europe 
till  1892,  when  a  writer  in  a  German  Review  stated  that  there  was  a  Slavonic 
version  of  the  Ethiopic  Book  of  Enoch.  By  Mr.  Morfill's  help  it  soon  became 
clear  that  there  was  no  foundation  whatever  for  such  a  statement,  and  subse- 
quent study  showed  that  we  had  recovered  therein  an  old  and  valuable  pseudo- 
pigrapha.  The  next  step  was  naturally  to  secure  its  publication,  and  this  was 
soon  made  possible  through  the  kindness  of  the  Delegates  of  the  Press. 

It  will  be  generally  understood  that  great  difficulties  beset  such  an  under- 
taking, and  particularly  in  the  case  of  a  Book  of  whose  existence  there  had  never 
been  even  a  surmise  in  the  world  of  scholarship,  and  to  which  there  was  not  a 
single  unmistakable  allusion  in  all  ancient  literature  *  *  *  " 

We  read  in  the  33rd  Chapter  of  this  wonderful  Book,  where  God  speaks 
to  Enoch  concerning  the  last  age — Page  48: 

"Give  them  the  words  written  out  by  thee,  and  they  shall  read  them,  and 
know  Me  to  be  the  Creator  of  all;  and  shall  understand  that  there  is  no  other 
God  beside  Me.  They  shall  distribute  the  Books  of  thy  writing  to  their 
children's  children,  and  from  generation  to  generation,  and  from  nation  to  nation. 
And  I  will  give  thee,  Enoch,  My  Messenger,  the  great  Captain  Michael,  for  thy 
writings,  and  for  the  writings  of  thy  fathers,  Adam,  Seth,  Enos,  Kainan,  Malaleel 
and  Jared,  thy  father.  And  I  shall  not  require  them  till  the  last  age,  for  I  have 
instructed  My  two  Angels,  Ariukh  and  Pariukh,  whom  I  have  put  upon  the 
earth  as  their  guardians.  And  I  have  ordered  them  in  time  to  guard  them,  that 
the  account  of  what  I  shall  do  in  thy  family,  may  not  be  lost  in  the  deluge  to 
come."  God  tells  Enoch  that  He  will  give  him  the  great  Captain  Michael  for 
his  writings,  and  that  He  will  not  require  them  (His  writings)  till  the  last  age. 
Now,  who  is  Michael?  Daniel  says  (12th  Chapter,  1st  Verse) — "And  at  that 
time  shall  Michael  stand  up,  the  Great  Prince  which  standeth  for  the  children 
of  thy  people ;  and  there  shall  be  a  time  of  trouble,  such  as  never  was  since  there 
was  a  nation  even  to  that  same  time;  and  at  that  time  thy  people  shall  be  de- 
livered, every  one  that  shall  be  found  written  in  the  Book."  According  to  the 
Bible  Dictionary,  Michael  means,  "Who  (is)  like  unto  God" — which,  of 
course,  refers  to  the  MANIFESTATION  and  His  day,  including  His  successor,  "the 
Anointed  One,  whom  He  would  set  upon  His  holy  hill  of  Zion,  to  declare  the 
decree  of  the  Lord"  (Ps.  2:6,  7). 

Now  let  us  review  briefly  the  facts  before  us;  then  draw  our  own  conclu- 
sions. What  was  it  that  God  told  Enoch  concerning  his  writings?  "That  He 
would  give  him  the  great  Captain  Michael  for  his  writings,  and  that  He  would 
not  require  them  until  the  last  age."  When  was  it  that  the  writings  of  Enoch 
which  for  centuries  had  been  lost  sight  of,  were  discovered  or  brought  to  light? 
In  the  year  1 892.  The  same  year  in  which  the  great  Captain  Michael  stood  up. 
The  MANIFESTATION  finished  His  earthly  mission  in  the  year  1892;  which 

35 


is,  of  course,  equivalent  to  standing  up ;  and  passing  away  that  same  year,  delivered 
the  Kingdom  into  the  hands  of  His  Anointed,  "The  man  Whose  Name  is  The 
Branch,  Who  would  perpetuate  the  Divine  Command,  confirm  the  covenant 
bequeathed  to  Him,  and  build  up  the  temple  of  the  Lord."  The  GREAT 
PRINCE  began  the  work  of  His  Kingdom  in  the  year  A.  D.  1852,  and  was 
forty  years  completing  His  labors,  including  the  new  covenant;  which  contains 
laws,  ordinances  and  teachings,  to  rule,  govern  and  guide  the  people  of  the 
world.  The  accomplishment  of  this  was  necessary,  before  He  could  fully  and 
effectively  stand  up.  The  same  year  (1892)  in  which  the  writings  of  Enoch  were 
brought  to  light  (which  writings  God  told  Enoch  He  would  not  require  until 
the  last  age),  the  Great  Captain  Michael  stood  up;  i.  e.,  the  precious  fruits 
brought  forth  by  Him  were  fully  matured,  ripened  and  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  His  First  Born ;  Whom  God  declared,  "He  would  make  higher  than  the  Kings 
of  the  earth;"  to  be  put  forth  by  Him,  as  foretold  by  Moses  in  Deut.  33:14. 
Daniel  said  that  that  time  would  be  the  beginning  of  great  troubles.  Has  there 
been  any  unusual  trouble  in  the  world  during  the  past  ten  years?  Well,  the 
affairs  of  the  nations,  as  published  in  the  Press,  will  answer  that  question. 

In  the  year  1892,  a  gold  panic  started  in  South  America,  extending  to  Aus- 
tralia, crushing  the  great  banking  houses  there;  which  reacted  upon  the  leading 
banking  firms  of  England,  causing  great  and  widespread  distress  among  the 
people  of  that  country ;  extending  to  other  European  countries,  and  finally  reached 
the  United  States  in  1893;  causing  unprecedented  business  depression  and  fail- 
ures, which  entailed  greater  hardship  to  the  people  of  this  country  generally,  than 
any  event  which  ever  happened  before,  outside  actual  war.  The  panic  circled 
the  world,  and  left  more  traces  of  general  financial  loss,  suffering  and  distress, 
among  the  masses,  in  its  path  of  ruin,  than  any  that  was  ever  known  in  the 
world  before. 

Following  closely  in  the  wake  of  this,  a  fierce  war  broke  out  between  Japan 
and  China,  in  which  the  latter  met  with  disastrous  defeat.  In  fact,  all  the  nations 
of  the  world  have  been  engaged  in  active  warfare  since  the  year  1892.  England 
has  not  had  a  peaceful  day  since ;  she  has  had  disastrous  wars  with  different  tribes 
of  India,  Africa  and  the  Soudan,  besides  taking  part  in  the  late  China  invasion 
by  the  nations  of  the  world.  And  also  came  very  near  getting  into  war  with  this 
country,  over  the  Venezuela  affair,  in  1895. 

France  had  trouble  in  the  East,  which  threatened  complications  with  other 
nations. 

Italy  met  with  disastrous  reverses  in  her  war  with  Abyssinia. 

The  wars  between  Turkey  and  Greece,  Spain  and  the  United  States,  and 
the  late  China  war,  in  which  all  the  Great  Powers  were  engaged,  are  too  fresh 
in  the  minds  of  all  to  need  comment. 

Besides  these  wars  mentioned,  all  manner  of  troubles  have  visited  the  nations 
of  the  world.  Famine,  earthquakes  and  innumerable  calamities  and  disasters  have 
afflicted  the  different  countries  since  the  year  1892.  There  was  the  great  famine 
in  India,  which  carried  off  millions  of  people  (over  15,000,000  being  affected  in 
one  district).  Others  in  Russia,  Persia  and  Ireland,  and  many  other  places; 
besides  numerous  plagues  and  disasters  of  unparalleled  severity,  throughout  the 
entire  world ;  of  which  the  St.  Louis  tornado,  and  Galveston  tidal  wave,  in  this 
country,  were  painful  examples;  the  latter  so  destructive  to  life  and  property. 

To  enumerate  all  the  calamitous  events,  chronicled  in  the  Press,  which  have 
occurred  since  1892,  would  indeed  be  a  lamentable  recital  of  endless  tales  of  woe. 
In  Governments,  in  the  social,  political,  industrial  and  religious  world,  was 

M 


there  ever  such  a  time  of  splitting  up,  disquietude,  unrest,  dissatisfaction  and  dis- 
turbed conditions,  as  that  which  obtains  today?  Is  it  possible  to  meet  a  single 
individual  (of  sound  mind),  who  will  honestly  affirm  that  he  or  she  is  enjoying 
a  peaceful,  untroubled  mind?  "The  heart  knoweth  its  own  bitterness."  Gain 
the  confidence  (if  you  can)  of  any  in  the  world  to-day  and  they  will  tell  you 
they  are  troubled,  one  way  or  another,  as  never  before.  These  are  facts  which 
there  is  no  disputing ;  and  they  confirm  the  prophecies  relating  to  this  present  time. 
The  people  are  looking  in  every  direction  for  a  solution  of  the  great  problem  as 
to  how  they  can  improve  conditions.  Never  before  in  the  history  of  the  world 
have  so  many  schemes  been  advanced  and  plans  suggested  for  reforms  in  social, 
political,  industrial  and  religious  circles,  which  is  conclusive  evidence  that  the 
great  mass  of  the  people  were  never  so  troubled  as  during  the  present  day. 

When  the  Pharisees  asked  Christ  for  a  sign,  He  said :  "When  it  is  evening, 
ye  say,  it  will  be  fine  weather,  for  the  sky  is  red :  And  in  the  morning,  it  will  be 
foul  weather  to-day,  for  the  sky  is  red  and  lowering.  O,  ye  hypocrites,  ye  can 
discern  the  face  of  the  sky;  but  can  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of  the  times?"  And 
so  it  is  with  the  people  of  to-day,  they  can  discern  from  the  sacred  writings,  in 
a  vague  sort  of  way,  that  a  Heavenly  King  is  to  come;  but  they  cannot  observe 
the  most  patent  signs,  mentioned  by  Christ  and  the  Prophets,  observable  at  the 
time  of  His  coming.  Jesus  clearly  showed  their  condition  when  He  said :  "Eyes 
have  they  which  see,  and  perceive  not;  ears  have  they  which  hear,  and  under- 
stand not."  Moses  in  blessing  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel,  foretold  this  day  in  a 
way  which  there  can  be  no  mistaking,  Deut.  33rd  Chap.,  verses  13,  14,  as  fol- 
lows: "And  of  Joseph  He  said,  Blessed  of  the  Lord  be  His  land,  for  the  pre- 
cious things  of  Heaven,  for  the  dew,  and  for  the  deep  that  coucheth  beneath, 
And  for  the  precious  fruits  brought  forth  by  the  sun,  and  for  the  precious  things 
put  forth  by  the  moon."  Here  is  a  beautiful  example  of  the  symbolic  language 
used  in  the  Book  of  God,  which  effectually  seals  the  Bible  to  those  who  do  not 
understand  its  great  meaning.  The  "Sun"  and  "Moon"  in  the  Bible,  have  dif- 
ferent meanings,  which  the  context  explains.  Sometimes  they  refer  to  Govern- 
ments or  Nations,  and  sometimes  to  a  Manifestation  and  His  successor,  as  in  the 
12th  Chapter  of  Revelation,  1st  verse,  the  former  meaning  is  understood;  "And 
there  appeared  a  great  wonder  in  heaven;  a  woman  clothed  with  the  sun,  and 
the  moon  under  her  feet,  and  upon  her  head  a  crown  of  twelve  stars."  Here  the 
"sun"  refers  to  Persia.  The  old  Persians  sacrificed  to  the  sun  and  adopted  it  as  a 
fitting  emblem  to  adorn  the  Royal  Standard.  The  "moon"  refers  to  Turkey, 
whose  Royal  Standard  bears  the  crescent  moon.  The  "woman"  represents  a 
religion ;  and  the  "crown  of  twelve  stars" — twelve  princes — which  that  woman, 
or  religion,  would  beget,  who  successively  would  be  the  Chief  Heads;  accordingly 
the  verse  refers  to  the  birth  of  the  Mohammedan  religion,  which  is  the  national 
religion  of  these  two  countries — Persia  and  Turkey. 

Mohammed  was  the  descendant  of  Ishmael ;  whom  the  angel  told  Abraham, 
God  would  bless  and  make  fruitful  and  multiply  exceedingly — Gen.  17:20,  "And 
as  for  Ishmael,  I  have  heard  thee :  Behold,  I  have  blessed  him,  and  will  make  him 
fruitful,  and  will  multiply  him  exceedingly ;  twelve  princes  shall  he  beget,  and  I 
will  make  him  a  great  nation."  Also  to  Hagar,  the  mother  of  Ishmael,  the 
angel  spake  saying,  Gen.  16:11,  12, — "And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  her, 
Behold,  thou  art  with  child,  and  shalt  bear  a  son,  and  shalt  call  his  name  Ishmael ; 
because  the  Lord  hath  heard  thy  affliction.  And  he  will  be  a  wild  man ;  his  hand 
will  be  against  every  man,  and  every  man's  hand  against  him ;  and  he  shall  dwell 
in  the  presence  of  all  his  brethren."  Also  Gen.  21 :12,  13 — "And  God  said  unto 

37 


Abraham,  Let  it  not  be  grievous  in  thy  sight  because  of  the  lad,  and  because  of 
thy  bondwoman ;  in  all  that  Sarah  hath  said  unto  thee,  hearken  unto  her  voice ; 
for  in  Isaac  shall  thy  seed  be  called.  And  also  of  the  son  of  the  bondwoman  will 
I  make  a  nation,  because  he  is  thy  seed."  And  the  angel  of  God  said  to  Hagar, 
Gen.  21 :18  and  20 — "Arise,  lift  up  the  lad,  and  hold  him  in  thine  hand;  for  I 
will  make  him  a  great  nation.  And  God  was  with  the  lad ;  and  he  grew,  and 
dwelt  in  the  wilderness,  and  became  an  archer.  And  he  dwelt  in  the  wilderness 
of  Paran"  (Arabia),  from  whence  came  Mohammed,  who  established  the  Mo- 
hammedan religion  which  begot  twelve  Princes,  known  as  the  twelve  Caliphs, 
successors  of  Mohammed.  The  entire  Chapter,  which  is  couched  in  symbolic 
language,  is  a  most  wonderful  revelation,  referring  to  the  Mohammedan  religion, 
and  events  concerning  the  present  day.  The  "woman,"  mentioned  in  Rev.  12:1, 
we  are  told  in  the  same  chapter,  sixth  verse,  "fled  into  the  wilderness,  where  she 
hath  a  place  prepared  of  God,  that  they  should  feed  her  there  a  thousand  two 
hundred  and  three  score  days"  (1260  Lunar  years),  which  when  reduced  to  our 
time  (Solar)  corresponds  exactly  with  the  first  period  mentioned  in  Daniel,  "time, 
times  and  a  half,"  the  year  A.  D.  1844,  the  year  the  Bab  appeared.  In  other 
words  the  Mohammedan  religion  would  stand  from  its  rise,  which  was  in  622 
A.  D.  until  1844,  the  date  upon  which  the  new  dispensation  was  declared  by  the 
Bab.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  "the  dragon  (mentioned  in  Rev.  12:4) 
stood  before  the  woman  which  was  ready  to  be  delivered,  for  to  devour  her  child 
as  soon  as  it  was  born,"  and  despite  the  combined  attacks  of  the  allied  armies  of 
Europe,  who,  during  the  Holy  wars  of  the  Crusade,  tried  hard  to  crush  Moham- 
medanism and  dispossess  her  of  her  territory,  Islam  has  held  the  holy  land  with 
a  firm  grasp,  and  trodden  down  the  holy  city,  forty  and  two  months  (1260 
years),  as  stated  in  Rev.  11:2 — the  time  declared  by  the  word  of  God,  spoken 
through  His  prophets,  that  this  religion  would  prevail — until  the  new  dispensa- 
tion would  be  ushered  in — "until  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles  be  come  in,"  and 
"There  shall  come  out  of  Sion  the  Deliverer,"  as  mentioned  in  Romans  11 :25, 
26;  the  Deliverer,  the  Great  Prince,  Michael,  who  would  stand  for  the  people 
of  Daniel,  bringing  them  the  promised  new  covenant. 

Their  allotted  time  being  now  fulfilled,  sure  and  rapid  destruction  awaits 
them;  as  foretold  in  many  places  in  the  prophecies;  "his  hand  has  been  against 
every  man,  and  every  man's  hand  against  him."  As  the  Jews  were  punished  for 
their  rejection  and  denial  of  Christ,  so  also  shall  the  Mohammedans,  according 
to  prophecy,  be  degraded  for  their  treatment  of  the  PRINCE  OF  PEACE.  "The 
sun  shall  be  darkened,  and  the  moon  turned  into  blood;"  this  will  be  fully  real- 
ized in  the  third  period,  mentioned  in  the  12th  Chapt.,  12th  verse  of  Daniel — 
"Blessed  is  he  that  waiteth  and  cometh  to  the  thousand  three  hundred  and  five 
and  thirty  days."  Isaiah  24:23 — "Then  the  moon  shall  be  confounded,  and  the 
sun  ashamed,  w-hen  the  Lord  of  Hosts  shall  reign  in  Mount  Zion,  and  in  Jeru- 
salem, and  before  His  ancients  gloriously." 

With  this  explanation  of  the  meaning  of  the  "sun"  and  "moon"  in  the  Bible, 
let  us  return  to  the  prophecy  of  Moses,  Deut.  33:14 — "And  for  the  precious 
fruits  brought  forth  by  the  sun,  and  for  the  precious  things  put  forth  by  the 
moon."  As  before  explained,  the  Sun  and  Moon  refer  sometimes  to  the  MANI- 
FESTATION and  His  successor;  at  other  times  to  Governments  or  Nations.  Moses 
was  the  Sun,  and  Joshua  the  Moon ;  in  the  day  of  Jesus,  Christ  was  the  Sun, 
and  Peter  the  Moon ;  in  this  day  BAHA'O'LLAH  the  Sun,  and  Abdul-Baha 
the  Moon.  In  the  prophecy  of  Moses  above  mentioned,  it  has  a  dual  application, 
and  can  be  taken  in  either  sense.  The  MANIFESTATION  brought  forth  these 

38 


precious  fruits  in  Persia — ("the  precious  fruits  brought  forth  by  the  sun") ;  and 
the  Greatest  Branch  is  putting  them  forth  from  Turkey — ("and  for  the 
precious  things  put  forth  by  the  moon").  The  lamp  of  this  Great  Truth  was 
first  lighted  in  Persia,  and  to-day  its  light  is  being  reflected  to  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth,  from  Turkey.  Brought  forth  by  the  Sun,  BAHA'O'LLAH,  in  Persia; 
put  forth  by  the  Moon  Abdul-Baha,  in  Turkey — "The  Man  Whose  Name 
is  The  Branch"  (Zech.  6:12) — "And  He  shall  grow  up  out  of  His  place, 
and  He  shall  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord." 

To  sum  up,  we  have  seen  that  The  Messenger,  The  PRINCE  OF  PEACE, 
and  the  man  whose  name  is  The  Branch,  have  all  three  come,  and  fulfilled 
to  the  letter,  according  to  prophecy,  their  respective  parts,  each  link  in  this  mar- 
velous chain  fitting  together  with  wonderful  exactness,  in  complete  and  perfect 
harmony. 

The  statement  in  our  Second  Talk  that  the  "Millerites"  of  this  country, 
while  they  erred  in  judgment  in  1844,  were  not  so  far  astray  after  all,  is  con- 
firmed by  the  fact,  that  upon  the  night  of  the  same  day  the  Bab  declared 
Himself,  the  Greatest  Branch  was  born  in  Persia,  and  it  is  a  well  known 
fact  that  at  that  same  time  the  "Millerites"  of  this  country  watched  till  after 
midnight  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord,  in  the  literal  clouds.  Several,  well  known 
to  us  personally,  who  participated  in  the  event,  and  who  have  since  received  the 
Message,  have  testified  to  this  fact. 

In  the  face  of  all  this  convincing  evidence,  what  rational  mind  can  question 
the  validity  of  the  claims  of  the  followers  of  BAHA'O'LLAH?  Yet,  there  are  those 
who  say,  "We  believe  in  the  prophecies,  but  how  do  we  know  He  is  the  One?" 
Which  shows  conclusively  that  they  have  not  grasped,  or  comprehended,  what  has 
been  told  them ;  for  if  they  were  to  reflect  for  a  moment  on  the  one  circumstance 
alone  of  His  final  banishment  to  Acca,  by  His  bitterest  enemies,  they  would  be 
compelled  to  admit  that  no  stronger  proof  of  His  identity  could  possibly  be  estab- 
lished than  the  very  act  of  His  being  sent  there  to  end  His  earthly  days.  He 
did  not  ask  to  be  sent  there.  It  was  not  of  His  own  volition  that  He  was  exiled 
to  Acca.  His  wish  or  will  in  the  matter  was  never  consulted  by  His  oppressors; 
in  fact,  had  they  the  least  suspicion  it  would  have  been  agreeable  to  him,  or  the 
faintest  suggestion  that  in  doing  so,  they  were  performing  a  crowning  act  of 
confirmation  to  the  claims  of  Himself  and  followers,  nothing  within  their  power 
would  have  been  withheld  to  prevent  His  ever  seeing  the  place.  His  powerful 
presence  in  their  midst  was  a  source  of  great  irritation,  the  fragrant  waves  of 
His  holy  breath  disturbed  the  peaceful  atmosphere  of  their  self-satisfaction.  For 
some  reason  they  feared  to  condemn  Him  to  the  fate  of  the  Bab,  so  to  be  rid 
of  Him,  they  banished  Him  to  Acca.  At  that  time,  due  to  neglected  sanitary 
conditions,  it  was  the  most  desolate  and  unhealthy  spot  they  could  send  Him  to; 
which  they  did  with  the  hope  that  malaria  would  do  its  work,  and  hasten  the 
much  desired  end.  But  in  doing  this,  they  unconsciously  assisted  in  the  fulfill- 
ment of  the  great  prophecies  concerning  these  days. 

The  arrival  of  BAHA'O'LLAH  and  His  followers  at  Acca  was  the  be- 
ginning of  the  literal  fulfillment  of  the  entire  35th  Chapter  of  Isaiah,  as  well  as 
many  other  prophecies.  "The  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  shall  be  glad  for 
them;  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice,  and  blossom  as  the  rose"  (Isa.  35:1).  "It 
shall  blossom  abundantly  and  rejoice  even  with  joy  and  singing ;  the  glory  of  Leb- 
anon shall  be  given  unto  it,  the  excellency  of  Carmel  and  Sharon,  they  shall  see 
the  glory  of  the  Lord,  and  the  excellency  of  our  God"  (Isa.  35:2).  The  mean- 
ing of  Baha  is — "The  glory  of  the  Lord,"  and  Sharon  and  Carmel  surely  saw 
it  in  the  person  of  BAHA'O'LLAH. 

89 


The  promise  in  the  15th  verse,  2nd  Chapter  of  Hosea,  has  already  been  ful- 
filled— "And  I  will  give  her  her  vineyards  from  thence,  and  the  valley  of  Achor 
for  a  door  of  hope: —  Also  Isaiah  65:10 — "And  Sharon  shall  be  a  fold  of 

flocks,  and  the  valley  of  Achor  a  place  for  the  herds  to  lie  down  in,  for  my  people 
that  have  sought  me." 

Is  it  at  all  likely  His  adversaries  would  have  banished  Him  to  this  desolate 
spot,  had  they  realized  the  consequence,  or  understood  the  Scriptures?  Assuredly 
not.  But  the  will  of  God  prevailed,  and  so — "the  wilderness  and  solitary  place 
has  indeed  been  glad  for  them,  and  the  desert — at  the  present  time — rejoices  (in 
reality)  and  blossoms  as  the  rose."  The  beautifying  touch  of  the  hands  of  power 
during  the  past  twenty-five  years  has  turned  this  desert  into  a  delightful  garden , 
perfumed  with  the  Divine  sweetness  of  purity,  peace  and  good-will  toward  man- 
kind. "The  parched  ground  has  (in  reality)  become  a  pool  and  the  thirsty  land 
springs  of  water,"  from  which  flo\vs  a  fountain  of  pure  knowledge,  that  satisfies 
the  thirsty  soul  and  washes  away  all  impeding  stains  of  superstition  and  imag- 
ination. 

The  tense  of  this  Chapter  (Isaiah  35)  can  now  be  changed  from  the  future 
to  the  present.  In  this  day  pilgrims  are  visiting  Sion,  "with  joy  and  gladness" 
— and  also  as  mentioned  in  Daniel,  "many  shall  run  to  and  fro  and  knowledge 
shall  be  increased."  Now  that  the  seal  has  been  loosened  and  the  Book  opened, 
many  are  running  to  and  fro,  through  the  sacred  pages,  increasing  their  knowl- 
edge understandingly.  Also  many  are  going  and  coming  from  the  Holy  City, 
telling  us  glorious  things  of  the  Holy  Household,  as  foretold  in  the  87th  Psalm, 
3rd  verse — "Glorious  things  are  spoken  of  thee,  O  city  of  God."  "And  of 
Zion  it  shall  be  said,  This  and  that  man  was  born  in  her:  and  the  Highest  Him- 
self shall  establish  her"  Ps.  87:5.  The  same  mentioned  in  the  48th  Chapter 
Psalms,  2nd  verse — "Beautiful  for  situation,  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,  is  mount 
Zion,  on  the  sides  of  the  north,  the  city  of  the  great  King." 

To  quote  all  the  passages  of  Scripture  referring  to  Acca  would  necessitate 
reading  a  great  portion  of  the  Bible,  and  for  which  we  can  be  justly  excused. 
The  proofs  already  given  (if  duly  considered),  should  be  sufficient  to  convince 
any  honest  seeker  that  this  is  the  Truth,  the  whole  Truth,  and  nothing  but  the 
Truth;  and  if  it  is  not  all  this,  then  there  is  no  Truth,  and  life  itself  but  a 
delusion. 

Read  over  again  all  the  texts  quoted  in  these  Talks,  and  you  will  see  them 
in  an  entirely  different  light;  and  be  convinced  that  assuredly  He  is  the  God  of 
our  salvation,  promised  from  the  beginning;  and  that  the  prophecies  relating  to 
the  coming  of  our  Lord  of  Hosts  have  all  been  fulfilled  to  the  letter.  "The 
mountain  of  the  Lord's  house  has  been  established  in  the  top  of  the  mountain, 
and  is  now  exalted  above  the  hills,  and  all  nations,  in  this  day,  are  flowing  unto 
it,"  as  mentioned  in  the  second  Chapter  of  Isaiah,  and  fourth  chapter  of  Micah. 
The  25th  Chapter  of  Isaiah,  from  the  6th  to  the  9th  verses  inclusive,  is,  at  the 
present  time,  being  fulfilled,  and  the  last  three  verses  of  the  same  chapter  will 
very  soon  be  realized.  From  the  6th  to  the  9th  verses  reads : 

6.  "And  in  this  mountain  shall  the  Lord  of  Hosts  make  unto  all  people  a 
feast  of  fat  things,  a  feast  of  wines  on  the  lees,  of  fat  things  full  of  marrow,  of 
wines  on  the  lees  well  refined." 

7.  "And  he  will  destroy  in  this  mountain  the  face  of  the  covering  cast  over 
all  people,  and  the  vail  that  is  spread  over  all  nations." 

40 


8.  "He  will  swallow  up  death  in  victory;  and  the  Lord  God  will  wipe 
away  tears  from  off  all  faces;  and  the  rebuke  of  his  people  shall  he  take  away 
from  off  all  the  earth:  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it." 

9.  "And  it  shall  be  said  in  that  day,  Lo,  this  is  our  God;  we  have  waited 
for  him,  and  he  will  save  us:  this  is  the  Lord;  we  have  waited  for  him,  we  will 
be  glad  and  rejoice  in  his  salvation." 

The  6th  verse  has  reference  to  the  Holy  City,  New  Jerusalem ;  which  John 
saw  coming  down  from  God  out  of  Heaven  (spiritual  condition) ;  the  feast  of 
fat  things,  the  great  supper  foretold  by  Christ;  the  wines  and  fat  things  mean 
spiritual  food.  The  Table  of  God  means  the  Divine  Knowledge  which  God 
alone  is  able  to  impart;  and  the  earnest  and  sincere  seeker,  who  has  found  his 
God  (according  to  God's  way,  the  way  laid  down  by  Christ),  the  one  who  has 
entered  in  by  the  door,  and  has  not  attempted  to  climb  up  some  other  way,  is 
partaking  abundantly  of  this  precious  food  to-day. 

The  7th  verse  refers  to  the  Great  Revelation  He  will,  at  this  time,  unfold 
to  the  people  of  the  world,  by  destroying  the  face  of  the  covering  cast  over  all 
people — the  veil  that  is  spread  over  all  nations.  The  angel  having  told  Daniel 
to  "shut  up  the  words  and  seal  the  Book  to  the  time  of  the  end" — and  Peter 
having  declared — (2nd  Peter  1:20),  "Knowing  this  first,  that  no  prophecy  of 
the  scripture  is  of  any  private  interpretation,"  no  one  could  instruct  us  in  the 
deep  and  hidden  things  of  the  Bible,  until  the  one  appointed  "to  open  the  Book 
and  to  loose  the  seven  seals  thereof"  should  come,  as  shown  in  the  5th  Chapter 
of  Revelation.  The  seven  seals  refer  to  the  seven  great  religions,  the  seven  lamps, 
mentioned  in  the  4th  Chapter  of  Zechariah,  which  in  their  respective  day  have 
lighted  the  nations  of  the  world.  The  one  spirit — the  same  that  was  in  Christ — 
was  in  them  all;  see  1st  Peter,  1st  Chapter,  10th  and  llth  verses.  But  all  these 
Lamps  have  become  blurred,  the  secular  accumulations  of  time,  the  dust  of  de- 
caying faith  and  the  obscuring  fumes  of  man's  "private  interpretations" — have 
cast  a  covering  over  them  that  has  veiled  the  pure  light  of  God,  which  in  the 
beginning  shined  with  inspiring  brightness  through  them,  and  which  at  this 
time  needs  His  presence  to  destroy  the  covering  and  to  remove  the  veil,  which 
has  already  been  accomplished  in  this  mountain,  according  to  the  promise  in 
the  7th  verse,  revealing  to  mankind  the  pure  word  of  God  in  a  way  which 
appeals  to  the  hearts  of  men,  and  which  they  can  reconcile  with  reason,  natural 
law,  science  and  logic.  As  just  stated,  He  has,  in  this  day,  removed  the  veil 
that  has  been  spread  over  all  the  nations,  i.  e.,  He  has  opened  the  eyes  of  the 
(spiritually)  blind,  and  made  plain  all  the  mysterious  things  of  the  Bible,  to 
those  who  have  honestly  sought  Him,  showing  clearly  that  all  the  religions  (of 
Divine  origin)  in  their  purified  state  teach  one  and  the  same  thing;  that  all  are 
the  creatures  of  God,  and  all  must  look  to  Him,  the  one  and  only  God,  for 
eternal  salvation,  and  that  through  the  knowledge  of  Him  all  men  shall  become 
brothers. 

As  there  must,  of  necessity,  first  be  a  father  before  a  child,  so  likewise,  God 
must  first  be  known  and  accepted  as  the  Father  of  all  before  there  can  be  a 
universal  brotherhood  of  man.  With  this  covering  destroyed,  that  is  cast  over 
all  people,  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  Brotherhood  of  man  is  rendered  possible  ; 
but  without  the  removal  of  the  veil  that  is  spread  over  all  nations,  how  could  it 
be  possible?  The  8th  and  9th  verses  (Isa.  25th  Chap.)  have  more  direct  reference 
to  the  Jews.  All  are  dead  (spiritually)  outside  the  Kingdom,  and  the  promise  is 
more  especially  to  them,  "He  will  swallow  up  death  in  victory."  The  triumph 
of  Truth  over  error  will  gather  into  the  fold  all  who  sincerely  seek  and  desire  to 

41 


know  God;  and  as  death  came  to  the  Jew  through  his  rejection  of  Christ,  so 
shall  he  be  resurrected  by  the  Deliverer  who,  "After  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles 
be  come  in" — "Would  come  out  of  Zion,  and  turn  away  ungodliness  from  Jacob," 
Romans  11:25,  26;  the  latter  part  of  the  8th  verse  (Isa.  25th  Chap.) — "and 
the  rebuke  of  his  people  shall  he  take  away  from  off  all  the  earth;  for  the  Lord 
hath  spoken  it." 

Much  as  the  Jews  are  ae?pised  by  some  of  the  people  of  the  world,  they  are, 
nevertheless,  God's  chosen  people;  great  things  are  promised  them,  and  He  hath 
declared — Zech.  2:8 — "he  that  toucheth  them,  toucheth  the  apple  of  his  eye." 
His  promise  to  take  away  their  rebuke  from  off  all  the  earth  is  being  rapidly 
fulfilled,  as  witnessed  by  the  great  number  of  Jews  who  are  accepting  this  Mes- 
sage, and  exclaiming  in  the  words  of  the  9th  verse,  "Lo,  this  is  our  God ;  we  have 
waited  for  him, ." 

It  has  been  openly  announced  from  a  most  reliable  source  that  in  one  Oriental 
City  alone,  with  a  population  of  5,000  Jews,  4,000  out  of  that  number  have 
accepted  this  Truth,  and  the  other  1,000  are  on  the  way.  And  the  same  may  be 
said  of  all  religions.  Not  any  who  honestly  investigate  the  New  Revelation  can 
deny  its  power  to  "Break  them  with  a  rod  of  iron  (the  pure,  strong  word  of 
God)  and  dash  them  in  pieces  like  a  potter's  vessel"  and  attract  them  to  "The 
stone  that  has  been  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands." 

And  now  that  we  have  quoted  numerous  Bible  texts,  to  show  that  the  Hope 
and  Expectation  of  the  ages  have  already  come  to  pass ;  let  us  digress  for  a  little, 
and  quote  from  an  outside  source,  to  show  how  those  who  are  not  spiritual  seekers, 
are  affected  and  impressed  in  the  presence  of  these  Holy  People. 

Prof.  Browne,  to  whom  we  had  occasion  to  refer  in  our  Second  Talk,  con- 
cerning the  persecution  of  the  Bab  and  His  followers,  several  years  after  his 
journey  to  Persia  visited  Acca  (in  1890),  and  from  his  published  account  of  that 
visit  (which  was  purely  as  a  recorder  in  search  of  facts  concerning  the  persecu- 
tions of  these  people),  we  wish  to  quote  his  own  words  regarding  his  meeting 
with  the  Manifestation,  BAHA'O'LLAH,  and  His  Eldest  Son — The  Greatest 
Branch — (Abdul-Baha)  Abbas  Effendi  Of  the  latter  he  said: 

"I  arose  next  morning  (April  14th),  after  a  most  refreshing  sleep.  Soon 
after  this,  a  sudden  stir  without  announced  the  arrival  of  fresh  visitors,  and  a 
moment  after,  my  companion  of  the  previous  evening  entered  the  room  accom- 
panied by  two  other  persons,  one  of  whom  proved  to  be  the  Babi  Agent,  while 
the  other,  as  I  guessed  from  the  first  by  the  extraordinary  deference  shown  to 
him  by  all  present,  was  none  other  than  Baha's  eldest  son,  Abbas  Effendi.  Sel- 
dom have  I  seen  one  whose  appearance  impressed  me  more.  A  tall,  strongly- 
built  man,  holding  himself  straight  as  an  arrow,  with  white  turban  and  raiment, 
long  black  locks  reaching  almost  to  the  shoulder,  broad,  powerful  forehead,  indi- 
cating a  strong  intellect  combined  writh  an  unswerving  will^  eyes  keen  as  a  hawk's 
and  strongly  marked  but  pleasing  features — such  was  my  first  impression  of 
Abbas  Effendi,  'The  Master,'  as  He  par-excellence  is  called  by  the  Babis.  Sub- 
sequent conversation  with  Him  served  only  to  heighten  the  respect  with  which 
His  appearance  had  from  the  first  inspired  me.  One  more  eloquent  of  speech, 
more  ready  of  argument,  more  apt  of  illustration,  more  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  sacred  books  of  the  Jews,  the  Christians,  and  the  Mohammedans,  could, 
I  should  think,  scarcely  be  found,  even  amongst  the  eloquent,  ready,  and  subtle 
race  to  which  He  belongs.  These  qualities,  combined  with  a  bearing  at  once 
majestic  and  genial,  made  me  cease  to  wonder  at  the  influence  and  esteem  which 
He  enjoyed,  beyond  the  circle  of  His  Father's  followers." 


"In  this  illustrious  company  did  I  partake  of  the  midday  meal.  Soon  after 
this  conclusion,  Abbas  Effendi  and  the  others  arose  with  a  prefatory ." 

"A  quarter  of  an  hour  later  we  alighted  in  front  of  the  large  mansion  afore- 
said, whereof  the  name,  Behje  (Joy),  is  said  to  be  a  corruption  (though  a  very 
happy  corruption)  of  Baghcha  (garden)." 

"So  here  at  Behje  was  I  installed  as  a  guest,  in  the  very  midst  of  all  that 
Babism  accounts  most  noble  and  most  holy;  and  here  did  I  spend  five  most  mem- 
orable days,  during  which  I  enjoyed  unparalleled  and  unhoped-for  opportuni- 
ties of  holding  intercourse  with  those  who  are  the  very  fountain-heads  of  that 
mighty  and  wondrous  spirit,  which  works  with  invisible  but  ever  increasing  force, 
for  the  transformation  and  quickening  of  a  people  who  slumber  in  a  sleep  like  unto 
death.  It  was  in  truth  a  strange  and  moving  experience,  but  one  whereof  I 
despair  of  conveying  any  save  the  feeblest  impression.  I  might,  indeed,  strive  to 
describe  in  greater  detail  the  faces  and  forms  which  surrounded  me,  the  conversa- 
tions to  which  I  was  privileged  to  listen,  the  solemn  melodious  reading  of  the 
sacred  books,  the  general  sense  of  harmony  and  content  which  pervaded  the  place, 
and  the  fragrant,  shady  gardens  whither  in  the  afternoon  we  sometimes  repaired  ; 
but  all  this  was  naught  in  comparison  with  the  spiritual  atmosphere  with  which 
I  was  encompassed." 

"Persian  Moslems  will  tell  you  often  that  the  Babis  bewitch  or  drug  their 
guests  so  that  these,  impelled  by  a  fascination  which  they  cannot  resist,  become 
similarly  affected  with  what  the  aforesaid  Moslems  regard  as  a  strange  and  in- 
comprehensible madness.  Idle  and  absurd  as  this  belief  is,  it  yet  rests  on  a  basis 
of  fact  stronger  than  that  which  supports  the  greater  part  of  what  they  allege 
concerning  this  people.  The  spirit  which  pervades  the  Babis  is  such  that  it  can 
hardly  fail  to  affect  most  powerfully  all  subjected  to  its  influence.  It  cannot  be 
ignored  or  disregarded.  Let  those  who  have  not  seen,  disbelieve  me  if  they  will ; 
but,, should  that  spirit  once  reveal  itself  to  them,  they  will  experience  an  emotion 
which  they  are  not  likely  to  forget." 

"During  the  morning  of  the  day  after  my  installation  at  Behje,  one  of 
Beha's  younger  sons  entered  the  room  where  I  was  sitting  and  beckoned  to  me 
to  follow  him.  I  did  so,  and  was  conducted  through  passages  and  rooms  at  which 
I  scarcely  had  time  to  glance ." 

"I  dimly  suspected  whither  I  was  going  and  whom  I  was  to  behold.  A 
second  or  two  elapsed  ere,  with  a  throb  of  wonder  and  awe,  I  became  definitely 
conscious  that  the  room  was  not  untenanted.  In  the  corner  where  the  divan  met 
the  wall,  sat  a  wondrous  and  venerable  figure,  crowned  with  a  felt  headdress  of 
the  kind  called  taj  by  dervishes,  round  the  base  of  which  wras  wound  a  small 
white  turban.  The  face  of  Him  on  whom  I  gazed  I  can  never  forget,  though  I 
cannot  describe  it.  Those  piercing  eyes  seemed  to  read  one's  very  soul ;  power  and 
authority  sat  on  that  ample  brow,  while  the  deep  lines  on  the  forehead  and  face 
implied  an  age  which  the  jet-black  hair  and  beard  flowing  down  in  indistinguish- 
able luxuriance  almost  to  the  waist  seemed  to  belie.  No  need  to  ask  in  whose 
presence  I  stood,  as  I  bowed  myself  before  one  wrho  is  the  object  of  a  devotion 
and  love  which  kings  might  envy  and  emperors  sigh  for  in  vain ! 

"A  mild,  dignified  voice  bade  me  be  seated,  and  then  continued:  'Praise  be 
to  God  that  thou  hast  attained!  *  *  *  Thou  hast  come  to  see  a  prisoner  and 
an  exile.  *  *  *  *  We  desire  but  the  good  of  the  world  and  the  happiness  of 
the  nations ;  yet  they  deem  us  a  stirrer  up  of  strife  and  sedition,  worthy  of  bond- 
age and  banishment.  *  *  *  That  all  nations  should  become  one  in  faith,  and 
all  men  as  brothers ;  that  the  bonds  of  affection  and  unity  between  the  sons  of  men 

43 


should  be  strengthened ;  that  diversity  of  religion  should  cease,  and  differences  of 
race  be  annulled — what  harm  is  there  in  this?   *    *    *   Yet  so  it  shall  be;  these 
fruitless  strifes,  these  ruinous  wars  shall  pass  away,  and  the   'Most  Great  Peace' 
shall  come.   *  *  *   Do  not  you  in  Europe  need  this  also  ?    Is  not  this  that  which 
Christ  foretold?  Yet  do  we  see  your  kings  and  rulers  lavishing  their 

treasures  more  freely  on  means  for  the  destruction  of  the  human  race,  than  on  that 
which  would  conduce  to  the  happiness  of  mankind.  *'  *  *  These  strifes  and  this 
bloodshed  and  discord  must  cease,  and  all  men  be  as  one  kindred  and  one  family. 
Let  not  a  man  glory  in  this,  that  he  loves  his  country;  let  him  rather 
glory  in  this,  that  he  loves  his  kind.'  " 

These  are  the  words  of  BAHA'O'LLAH,  the  Manifestation  of  God,  spoken 
to  Prof.  Browne,  of  Cambridge  University,  England,  at  Acca. 

And  who  can  hear  them  without  being  impressed  with  their  Divine  tone  and 
uplifting  power?  Could  any  save  the  incarnate  tongue  of  God  utter  such  broad 
and  loving  words?  The  one  who  hears  and  understands,  answers  emphatically, 
No !  Imposters  never  sacrifice  all  personal  comforts,  interests  and  possessions  for 
the  benefit  of  others. 

The  Son  has  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Father,  suffering  martyrdom 
since  His  earliest  childhood ;  thus  fulfilling  the  prophecy  in  Psalms  69 :7-9 — "Be- 
cause for  thy  sake  I  have  borne  reproach ;  shame  hath  covered  my  face.  I  am 
become  a  stranger  unto  my  brethren,  and  an  alien  unto  my  mother's  children. 
For  the  zeal  of  thine  house  hath  eaten  me  up;  and  the  reproaches  of  them  that 
reproached  thee  are  fallen  upon  me." 

In  BAHA'O'LLAH  and  His  son,  Abdul-Baha,  the  entire  2nd  Chapter 
of  Psalms  has  been  literally  fulfilled.  "The  Kings  set  themselves,  and  the  rulers 
took  counsel  together,  against  the  Lord,  and  against  His  anointed,  saying,  Let  us 
break  their  bands  asunder  and  cast  away  their  cords  from  us."  "He  that  sitteth 
in  the  heavens  shall  laugh:  the  Lord  shall  have  them  in  derision." 

Soon  the  opposers  of  this  Great  Truth  shall  find  themselves  in  the  minority  ; 
then  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  God  shall  prevail  to  guide,  rule  and  govern  the 
nations  of  the  world ;  then  shall  be  ushered  in  the  Most  Great  Peace  that  is 
promised — "Nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither  shall  they 
learn  war  any  more,  but  they  shall  sit  every  man  under  his  vine  and  under  his 
fig  tree."  "Blessed  is  he  that  waiteth  and  cometh  to  the  thousand  three  hundred 
and  five  and  thirty  days," — reduced  to  our  time,  equals  1917.  The  people  of 
this  day  shall  see  it ;  and  this  is  the  Message  we  have  to  deliver,  the  Glad  Tidings 
of  Great  Joy. 

God  has  come  and  set  up  His  Kingdom,  the  door  of  which  is  open  to  every 
sincere  and  honest  seeker;  and  inside  awaits  him  that  which  "as  it  is  written,  eye 
hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  the  things 
which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that  wait  for  Him." — 1st  Cor.  2:9;  Isaiah 
64:4. 

You  have  now  the  opportunity  to  enter  the  Kingdom  if  you  so  desire,  but  it 
must  be  by  your  own  choosing.  The  bearers  of  this  Message  cannot  coax,  force, 
scare  or  drive  any  into  accepting.  All  that  God  requires  of  the  bearer  of  these 
"glad  tidings"  is  to  deliver  the  message;  then  leave  the  one  who  is  advancing  to- 
wards God,  to  himself.  In  Christ's  parable  of  the  great  supper,  "The  Lord  said 
unto  the  servant,  go  out  into  the  highways  and  hedges  and  compel  them  to  come 
in."  He  did  not  intend  by  this  that  he  was  to  resort  to  any  undue  means,  sensa- 
tional methods  or  forcing  against  the  will.  Not  at  all.  What  he  meant  was  that 

44 


he  (the  servant)  should  deliver  the  Message  of  His  Lord  in  such  a  clear,  com- 
prehensive, intelligent  manner,  that  it  would  appeal  to  the  heart  and  reason  of 
man,  so  that  he  could  not  logically  reject  it ;  therefore,  be  compelled  to  accept  the 
invitation. 

We  have  delivered  to  you  the  pith  of  the  wondrous  Message;  and  all  that 
we  can  now  say,  is,  follow  the  counsel  of  the  Mighty  One ;  use  your  reason.  We 
have  led  you  to  the  door;  it  is  for  you  yourself  to  say  whether  or  not  you  shall 
enter.  God  has  given  man  many  powers;  among  the  foremost  is  reason,  also 
judgment.  If  he  did  not  intend  man  to  use  them,  He  certainly  would  never  have 
given  them  to  him.  He  has  also  given  us  independence,  and  He  will  never  in- 
terfere with  our  free  exercise  of  this  quality.  In  this  matter  you  stand  entirely 
alone.  You  must  judge  and  act  for  yourself.  You  can  accept  or  reject  as  you 
like;  no  one  has  any  right  to  interfere  with  your  personal  affairs.  But  being 
independent,  you  are  also  responsible.  The  condition  of  free  will,  independence, 
is  responsibility;  so  that  it  is  essentially  necessary,  in  the  free  exercise  of  will, 
reason  and  judgment  should  be  respectfully  consulted. 

If  what  we  have  told  you  does  not,  in  your  judgment,  carry  conviction, 
then  it  is  only  fair  and  honest  to  us  and  to  yourself  that  you  investigate  further. 
So  far,  you  are  yet  in  your  A-B-C's ;  you  have  only  part  of  the  alphabet.  If  you 
desire  earnestly  to  read  the  sacred  books,  you  must  learn  the  whole  alphabet  of 
the  Kingdom.  A  man  born  into  this  physical  world  comes  as  a  babe  and  grows 
up ;  so  also  the  one  entering  the  Kingdom  of  God  is  born  a  spiritual  babe,  and 
grows  up  likewise.  There  is  the  physical  birth,  and  the  spiritual  birth.  As  Christ 
said,  "to  enter  the  Kingdom  of  God,  you  must  be  born  again"  (be  born  spiritu- 
ally). As  before  remarked,  there  is  no  end  to  the  knowledge  to  be  acquired  in  the 
Kingdom  of  God.  We  have  simply  pointed  the  way  which  leads  to  its  attain- 
ment. If  you  want  to  gain  this  great  knowledge  of  the  mysteries  of  the  King- 
dom (for  truth-sake),  you  have  only  to  ask  to  be  admitted;  and  by  compliance 
with  its  commands,  your  desire  shall  be  granted ;  and  you  will  receive  His  Great- 
est Name,  by  which  to  call  upon  Him,  and  which  is  known  only  by  the  children 
of  the  Kingdom,  as  shown  in  the  Scriptures:  Isa.  52:6 — "Therefore  my  people 
shall  know  my  name ;  therefore  they  shall  know  in  that  day  that  I  am  he  that  doth 
speak;  behold,  it  is  I."  Psalms  91:14 — "Because  he  hath  set  his  love  upon  me, 
therefore  will  I  deliver  him :  I  will  set  him  on  high,  because  he  hath  known  my 
name."  Proverbs  30:4 — "Who  hath  ascended  up  into  heaven,  or  descended? 
who  hath  gathered  the  wind  in  his  fists?  who  hath  bound  the  waters  in  a  gar- 
ment ?  who  hath  established  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  ?  what  is  his  name,  and  what 
is  his  son's  name,  if  thou  canst  tell  ?" 

God  has  promised  to  put  His  words  in  our  mouth.  The  following  are  some 
of  His  Own  and  if  used  faithfully  will  enable  the  sincere  to  see  those  things 
which  the  natural  man  cannot  see  nor  understand,  "because  they  are  spiritually 
discerned." 

COMMUNE  OR  PRAYER  TO  BE  USED  DAILY. 

O  God,  give  me  Knowledge,  Faith  and  Love.  Adorn  my  head,  O  God, 
with  the  Crown  of  Thy  Providence ;  my  heart  with  the  Light  of  Knowing  Thee ; 
my  tongue  with  the  utterance  of  Thy  Greatest  Name ;  and  my  ear  with  listening 
to  Thy  Holy  Word ;  for  Thou  art  the  only  One  Whose  action  was,  is  and  ever 
shall  be  glorified,  and  Whose  commands  shall  ever  be  obeyed. 

O  God,  help  me  to  be  just;  lift  me  up  from  the  ocean  of  Superstition  and 
Imagination,  and  grant  me  a  discerning  (strong  spiritual)  Sight  to  see  and  realize 
from  the  surrounding  existence,  Thy  Oneness  and  Thy  Truth. 

45 


CHAPTER  5. 

ADDED  TO  THE  ORIGINAL  FOUR  CHAPTERS  AS  MENTIONED 
IN  THE  PREFACE. 

It  has  been  questioned  by  some  as  to  whether  the  troubled  condition  of  so- 
ciety, in  the  present  day,  can  have  any  special  significance,  in  a  prophetic  sense; 
in  support  of  which  the  claim  is  advanced  that  troubles,  in  the  human  family, 
have  always  existed  since  the  days  of  Adam, — which  fact  goes  without  question. 
It  is  freely  admitted  that  all  kinds  of  calamities  have  visited  the  dwellers  upon 
earth  since  man's  first  appearance  upon  it,  but  the  Prophet  Daniel  emphasized  the 
fact  that  at  the  "time  of  the  end"  (the  consummation  of  the  ages — the  appointed 
time  when  old  things  should  pass  away  and  all  things  become  new)  those  trou- 
bles would  be  increased  to  a  degree  never  before  reached  in  the  history  of  the 
world.  And  what  rational  mind,  informed  of  the  doings  of  the  world — of 
nations  and  individuals — can  deny  the  truth  of  existing  realities  such  as  the  world 
has  never  seen.  So  general  and  widespread  have  been  those  unusual  troubles  and 
phenomenal  events,  since  the  declaration  of  the  Messenger,  that  thoughtful  minds 
in  all  parts  of  the  world  have  been  agitated  by  them.  Philosophers  are  vainly 
trying  to  explain  the  cause ;  prominent  writers  have  made  it  a  subject  for  leading 
articles  in  the  press ;  and  the  rank,  and  file  throughout  the  world  are  attributing 
all  manner  of  causes — but  the  right  one — to  account  for  the  unusual  commotion 
everywhere  observable  in  the  political,  industrial,  social  and  religious  world.  In 
private  life,  where  is  to  be  found  the  individual  who  is  entirely  free  from  dis- 
tressing troubles?  Who  can  boast  exemption  from  the  trials  and  tests  which 
afflict  the  people  in  this  day?  As  foretold  by  the  prophet  Zech.,  8th  Chapter, 
10th  Verse:  *  1h  *  "Neither  was  there  any  peace  to  him  that  went  out  or  came 
in  because  of  the  affliction:  for  I  set  all  men  every  one  against  his  neighbor." 

The  above  quotation  amply  expresses  present  conditions,  and  the  experience 
of  every  close  observer  fully  confirms  the  fact  that  never  since  the  beginning  of 
nations  have  there  been  such  disturbed  conditions  as  those  which  afflict  the  present 
generation,  and  alas! — "the  end  is  not  yet."  Further  comment  is  unnecessary. 
Sufficient  mention  has  already  been  made  to  awaken  thoughtful  minds  to  a  real- 
ization of  the  Great  Day  in  which  we  live ;  and  if  the  troublous  times  spoken  of 
in  the  12th  Chapter  of  Daniel  are  not  to  be  regarded  as  having  any  special  signifi- 
cance,— how  about  its  accompaniment  mentioned  in  the  same  Chapter,  4th  Verse, 
viz.:  that  *  *  *  "Knowledge  shall  be  increased?"  While  it  may  be  somewhat 
difficult  for  those  whom  severe  trials  and  afflictions  have  not  yet  visited,  to  behold 
the  signs  of  the  times  in  the  general,  upset  conditions  of  affairs  in  the  world  at 
large,  it  is  by  no  means  difficult  to  realize  the  indisputable  fact  that  since  the  Day 
of  the  Manifestation,  knowledge  has  been,  and  is,  increasing  as  never  before,  and 
with  such  vastness  and  rapidity  as  to  exclude  all  doubts,  quibbling  and  dispute 
concerning  the  certainty  of  THE  DAY. 

To  enumerate  all  the  marvelous  discoveries,  inventions  and  mysteries  revealed 
since  the  birth  of  the  Manifestation  would  fill  many  pages.  Indeed,  it  is  no  ex- 
aggeration to  say  that  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  in  general  during  the  past 
eighty-six  years,  equals — if  not  exceeds — that  of  all  the  past  ages  together.  Can 
this  be  regarded  as  a  mere  coincidence,  or  is  it  a  fulfillment  of  the  prophecy  that 
at  the  same  time  when  the  troublous  times  would  begin,  knowledge  also  would 

fli 


be  increased  ?  That  it  is  not  a  coincidence  but  is  in  accordance  with  the  Divine 
Command,  is  proved  by  the  order  in  which  knowledge  has  come  to  us;  and  the 
discoveries  and  inventions  themselves  confirm  it.  For  instance,  the  locomotive 
came  first,  and  following  closely  upon  it  came  the  telegraph.  Here  are  the  two 
most  wonderful  factors  in  the  world's  general  progress  and  development,  coming 
almost  together.  Why  did  not  the  telegraph  come  first?  Because  transportation 
facilities  were  most  needed,  so  the  Ruler  of  all  things  gave  us  first  the  locomotive. 
But  with  its  introduction  arose  the  urgent  need  of  the  telegraph ;  for  as  all  very 
well  know,  the  successful  running  of  trains,  without  the  aid  of  the  telegraph, 
would  be  impossible;  so  the  Supreme  Ruler  and  Controller  of  all  the  hidden 
powers  of  nature  decreed  that  the  telegraphic  power  of  electricity  should  be  re- 
vealed, and  at  an  opportune  time,  when  He  and  His  Anointed  came  and  set  up 
His  Kingdom  on  earth,  it  was  done.  And  that  it  was  by  Divine  Order  and  Ap- 
pointment, who  can  question? 

The  same  Voice  that  spoke  to  Daniel  concerning  the  time  of  troubles  and 
when  knowledge  should  be  increased,  also  challenged  Job  in  the  following  words : 
Job  38:35 — "Canst  thou  send  lightnings,  that  they  may  go,  and  say  unto  thee, 
Here  we  are?"  Here  is  your  telegraph,  which  for  thousands  of  years  had  been 
reserved  only  to  be  revealed  in  the  Great  Day  of  the  Lord,  when  He  would  set  up 
His  Kingdom  on  earth;  the  same  Day  in  which  was  born  His  Anointed,  the 
Center  of  His  Covenant,  at  this  present  time,  "Sits  upon  His  holy  hill  of  Zion." 

The  first  line  of  telegraph  run  and  operated  was  between  Baltimore  and 
Washington  in  the  year  A.  D.  1844. 

Now,  in  considering  the  Divine  Utterances  as  spoken  through  the  prophets, 
it  should  be  remembered  that  there  is  an  inner  and  outer,  a  spiritual  and  ma- 
terial meaning  to  be  understood,  as  previously  explained  concerning  the  "sun 
and  moon,"  according  to  the  prophecy.  At  the  time  of  the  end,  troubles  and 
knowledge,  both  spiritual  and  material,  would  simultaneously  be  increased.  And 
that  the  prophecy  has  been  fully  verified,  who  can  deny? 

While  a  deep  significance  attaches  to  all  the  important  discoveries  and  in- 
ventions, since  the  Advent  of  the  Blessed  Perfection,  perhaps  there  is  none  more 
striking  than  the  telegraph.  When  thoughtfully  considered,  its  nature  and  date 
of  introduction  are  truly  marvelous.  In  the  year  1844  the  amazing  fact  was  an- 
nounced that  through  the  power  of  electricity,  mechanically  applied,  the  people 
of  the  earth  could  communicate  with  each  other  by  "sending  out  lightning" — 
flashing  their  words  to  all  parts  of  the  world,  "saying,  here  we  are."  That  same 
year,  the  Great  Herald  appeared,  proclaiming  the  dawn  of  the  New  Day,  on  which 
would  arise  the  Sun  of  Transcendent  Knowledge,  whose  "sevenfold  light,  as  the 
light  of  seven  days,"  would  penetrate  the  blinding  veils  of  ignorance,  supersti- 
tion and  imagination,  illuminating  the  understanding  of  the  honest  seeker  with 
the  Truth  which  makes  one  free,  by  having  access  to  the  Fountain  Head  of 
knowledge  through  direct,  personal  communication  on  earth  with  the  Lord  of 
Hosts,  the  Manifest  Word,  which  intimated  to  Job  the  marvelous  power  of  com- 
munication which  has  been  revealed  and  practically  demonstrated  in  His  Great 
Day. 

With  the  Advent  of  the  Messenger,  the  birth  of  the  Greatest  Branch  and  the 
introduction  of  the  telegraph  (all  occurring  in  the  same  year)  came  also  the 
beginning  of  the  great  troubles  prophesied  by  Daniel,  12th  Chapter,  and  foretold 
by  Christ,  Matthew,  24th  Chapter:  "For  then  shall  be  great  tribulations,  such 
as  was  not  since  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  this  time,  no,  nor  ever  shall  be." 
As  before  mentioned,  sufficient  reference  has  been  made  to  these  troubles  and 

47 


calamities  to  awaken  thoughtful  minds,  who  are  cognizant  of  existing  conditions. 
But  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  "seeing  see  not,"  and  have  raised  the  question 
that  troubles  have  always  existed,  and  that  the  present  disturbed  conditions  cannot 
be  regarded  as  having  any  special  significance,  we  shall  briefly  mention  some  of 
the  notable  events  which  have  occurred  among  the  nations  since  the  declaration 
of  the  Messenger  in  the  year  1844,  to  show  how  general  they  have  been,  and 
their  remarkable  relation  to  the  wonderful  knowledge  which  has  been  revealed, 
side  by  side,  with  these  increasing,  world-wide  tribulations. 

Starting  from  the  year  1844,  a  continuous  war  cloud  has  cast  its  gloomy 
shadow  over  different  parts  of  the  globe  up  to  the  present  time.  Scarcely  has 
the  echo  of  the  cannon's  roar  died  out  in  one  country,  ere  the  thundering  of  other 
guns  proclaimed  the  beginning  of  fresh  hostilities  on  the  battle  plains  of  some 
other  country.  History  records  the  following  great  wars  among  the  leading 
nations : 

About  this  time  a  war  was  in  progress  between  China  and  England,  ter- 
minating in  the  loss  of  Hong  Kong  to  the  former.  A  treaty  of  peace  was  signed 
between  them  in  1848. 

In  the  year  1846,  war  was  declared  between  Mexico  and  the  United  States. 
Peace  treaty  signed,  1848. 

The  Crimean  war — England,  France  and  Turkey  against  Russia — 1854. 
The  atrocious  Sepoy  mutiny,  1857-1858. 
France  and  Italy  against  Austria,  1858-1859. 
Civil  war  of  United  States,  1861-1865. 
Franco-Prussian  war,  1870-1871. 
Russian-Turkish  war,  1876-1877. 

And  during  the  last  decade  the  wars  between  China  and  Japan,  Turkey  and 
Greece,  Spain  and  the  United  States,  the  late  China  invasion  by  all  the  great 
powers,  and  the  late  Boer  war. 

The  above  mentioned  are  among  the  principal  wars, — to  say  nothing  about 
the  numerous  outbreaks,  massacres,  revolutions,  etc.,  among  the  different  tribes 
and  smaller  powers  throughout  the  entire  world;  all  of  which  have  entailed 
untold  misery,  distress,  devastation  and  woe,  diffusing  their  direful  fruits  around 
the  domestic  hearths  of  these  respective  countries,  and  fulfilling  the  first  part  of 
the  prophecy  of  Christ,  Matt.  24:6 — "And  ye  shall  hear  of  wars  and  rumors  of 
wars;  see  that  ye  (the  believers)  be  not  troubled;  for  all  these  things  must  come 
to  pass,  but  the  end  is  not  yet." 

Of  those  who  discern  not  the  troublous  signs  of  the  times,  we  would  ask, — 
at  what  period  since  1844  has  the  atmosphere  been  cleared  from  the  smoke  of 
battles  and  rumors  of  wars?  And  what  is  the  prospect  for  the  much  desired 
universal  peace  to-day?  Is  it  very  promising,  or  do  the  signs  better  correspond 
with  the  words  of  Christ,  promising  that  "the  end  is  not  yet"  ?  The  Scriptures 
assure  us  that  the  vexatious  Eastern  question  and  all  disturbing  questions  between 
nations  shall  be  permanently  settled  according  to  the  promise  that  "the  Most 
Great  Peace  shall  come," — when  the  nations  "shall  beat  their  swords  into  plow- 
shares, and  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks;  nation  shall  not  lift  up  a  sword 
against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more.  But  they  shall  sit  every 
man  under  his  vine  and  under  his  fig  tree ;  and  none  shall  make  them  afraid ;  for 
the  mouth  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  hath  spoken  it."' — Micah  4:3,  4;  Isa.  2:4. 

But  before  this  blessed  state  arrives,  the  prophecy  of  Joel  and  Revelation 
must  come  to  pass;  Joel,  3rd  Chapter,  beginning  at  the  9th  verse:  "Proclaim  ye 
this  among  the  Gentiles :  Prepare  war,  wake  up  the  mighty  men,  let  all  the  men 

48 


of  war  draw  near ;  let  them  come  up :  Beat  your  plowshares  into  swords,  and  your 
pruning  hooks  into  spears:  *  *  *  Multitudes,  multitudes  in  the  valley  of  de- 
cision :  for  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  near  in  the  valley  of  decision." 

To  do  justice  to  the  text  referring  to  the  tribulations  of  these  days  would 
require  more  space  than  a  condensed  work  of  this  kind  admits.  Thus  far  we 
have  dealt  with  the  material  troubles  only.  But  as  before  explained,  it  should 
be  remembered  that  these  troubles  apply  both  to  material  and  spiritual  condi- 
tions. And  who  will  affirm  that  peace,  unity  and  tranquillity  have  characterized 
the  sacred  precincts  of  religious  organizations  during  the  period  we  have  under 
consideration.  From  the  time  of  the  appearance  of  the  Messenger  down  to  the 
present  day,  thousands  have  been  slain ;  men,  women  and  children  put  to  death — 
murdered,  tortured  and  butchered  in  the  most  fiendish,  cold-blooded,  atrocious 
manner,  for  no  other  offense  than  the  firm  refusal  to  give  up  their  abiding  faith 
in  the  living  God.  Murders  on  a  small  scale,  and  massacres  on  a  large  one,  have 
been  going  on  among  different  religious  sects,  in  the  name  of  their  God,  from  the 
forties  down  to  the  present  day;  and  the  great  nations  who  profess  belief  in  the 
Fatherhood  of  God  and  brotherhood  of  man  have  looked  on  these  flagrant  bar- 
barities with  apparent  indifference. 

In  the  great  Christian  church  in  which  we  were  reared,  we  have  seen,  dur- 
ing this  period,  the  temporal  power  taken  away  from  the  Mother  Church  and  all 
her  descend ent  denominations  disturbed,  agitated  and  divided  up  by  the  so-called 
heresies  of  advanced  thinkers  and  the  unorthodox  views  put  forth  by  leading, 
eminent  professors  in  the  different  theological  seminaries.  In  consequence  of 
which,  many  have  wandered  from  the  different  folds  to  embrace  new  doctrines, 
and  being  seduced  by  the  attractive  allurements  of  the  diversified  doctrines,  fads 
and  isms  established  by  new  thought  elements,  during  the  period  treated,  became 
identified  with  them,  to  the  sorrow  and  dismay  of  former  friends  and  associates 
in  the  old  faith,  causing  troubles  which  have  destroyed  the  tottering  faith  of 
many  in  the  spiritual  world,  and  thus,  by  their  thoughtless  apostasy,  have  literally 
fulfilled  the  prophecy  of  St.  Paul,  1st  Timothy,  4th  Chapter:  "Now  the  Spirit 
speaketh  expressly  that  in  the  latter  times  some  shall  depart  from  the  faith, 
giving  heed  to  seducing  spirits  and  doctrines  of  devils." 

Pardon  this  digression.  Our  purpose  at  this  present  writing  is  not  to  com- 
ment further  on  the  troubles  and  tribulations,  but  merely  to  show  to  those  who 
doubt  the  significance  of  these  calamities,  that  the  other  side  of  the  text  must 
also  be  taken  into  account,  viz. :  that  "many  shall  run  to  and  fro  and  knowledge 
shall  be  increased."  When  both  are  duly  considered,  it  will  be  found  that  the 
one  confirms  the  other. 

The  astonishing  advancement  in  transportation  facilities,  by  land  and  by 
sea,  since  the  beginning  of  the  New  Day,  has  rendered  travel  so  convenient,  easy 
and  available  that  a  trip  around  the  world  in  the  present  day  is  not  considered  so 
great  a  journey  as  the  hazardous  undertaking  of  migrating  from  the  remote  part 
of  one  State  in  the  Union  to  that  of  another  State  was  fifty  years  ago ;  in  fact,  it 
is  no  figure  of  speech  to  say  that  more  traveling — "running  to  and  fro" — is  done 
in  one  year  now  than  was  done  in  a  century  in  the  days  before  1844.  This  state- 
ment stands  irrefutable.  And  not  only  the  greatly  increased  material  "running 
to  and  fro"  is  going  on,  but  the  spiritual  as  well;  the  breaking  of  the  Seven 
Seals  by  the  "Root  of  David  who  hath  prevailed  to  open  the  Book,  and  to  loose 
the  Seven  Seals  thereof" — Rev.  5 :5 — revealing  the  hidden  mysteries  of  the  sacred 
writings,  rendering  them  so  plain,  clear  and  comprehensible  that  thousands  and 
thousands  of  all  religions  are  "running  to  and  fro"  through  the  pages  of  the 

49 


Book  of  books,  and  visiting  "the  mountain  of  the  Lord"  as  before  referred  to, 
thus  increasing  their  knowledge  understandingly  as  never  before.  The  verse, 
"They  shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall  be  increased"  has,  and  is,  being 
fulfilled,  both  spiritually  and  materially,  to  a  degree  never  dreamed  of  by  the 
people  of  the  world. 

We  have  glanced  at  the  list  of  the  principal  wars,  of  the  leading  nations, 
as  recorded  in  history,  and  whose  entailed  calamities  have  caused  inexpressible 
trials  and  tribulations  to  their  respective  subjects. 

Now,  let  us  glance  down  the  list  of  marvelous  knowledge  revealed  through 
the  wonderful  inventions  and  discoveries  made  during  the  same  period.  The 
list  is  so  long  we  may  be  justly  excused  from  going  into  detail.  Mention  of  a 
few  of  the  principal  ones  will  suffice. 

Beginning  at  the  year  1844,  the  telegraph  heads  the  list. 

First  sewing  machine  patented  1846. 

The  cylinder  printing  press,  1847. 

First  harvester,  the  McCormick  mower,  exhibited  at  the  world's  fair,  Lon- 
don, with  practical  success,  1851. 

Before  proceeding  further,  let  us  analyze  the  list  thus  far  mentioned,  and 
note  the  remarkable  significance  of  each  in  relation  to  the  spiritual  events  tran- 
spiring at  the  time. 

The  telegraph  furnished  means  for  the  people  throughout  the  earth  to  com- 
municate with  each  other,  and  the  Advent  of  the  Manifested  Word  furnished 
means  for  truth  seekers  to  hold  communication  with  the  Kingdom  of  God 
on  earth. 

At  a  time  when  the  people  would  "run  to  and  fro"  more  new  garments 
would  be  needed ;  a  greater  demand  for  extra  clothing  would  arise,  so  the  sewing 
machine  came  to  supply  the  increased  demand  by  its  extraordinary  power  of  pro- 
duction over  old  methods  of  turning  out  the  finished  article  in  a  hurry.  And  it 
also  typified  existing  conditions  in  the  spiritual  world.  Thousands  and  thousands 
who  in  this  day  are  coming  into  the  Kingdom  and  laying  aside  the  old,  ill-fitting, 
soiled  garments  of  secular  attire,  and  donning  the  new,  pure  robes  of  righteous- 
ness, which  are  being  supplied  through  the  marvelous  power  of  the  Spirit  at  work 
in  the  Kingdom  of  God  on  earth.  The  garment  of  Joseph — the  coat  of  many 
colors — representing  the  various  religions,  came  on  the  back  of  him  who  alone 
could  reconcile  into  one  united  whole  the  different  religions  of  the  world.  At 
the  time  the  sewing  machine  made  its  appearance,  and  to-day,  Buddhists,  Brah- 
mans,  Zoroastrians,  Jews,  Christians,  Mohammedans — all — are  applying  for  new 
garments  of  like  pattern,  at  the  same  great  establishment,  and  all  are  being  served 
and  fitted  with  such  perfect  exactness  and  sameness  that  the  different  colors  blend 
into  an  indelible  hue  so  clear  and  lucid  as  to  reflect  only  the  cardinal  virtues  of 
agreement,  harmony  and  oneness,  "as  the  soul  of  one  dwelling  in  many  bodies." 

At  the  time,  too,  when  "running  to  and  fro  and  knowledge  should  be  in- 
creased," the  doings  in  the  different  parts  of  the  world  would  be  flashed  "by  the 
lightnings"  to  the  great  centers  of  population,  and  to  impart  such  intelligence  to 
the  public  would  require  greater  printing  facilities ;  so  the  cylinder  press  came  right 
in  season.  Few  outside  those  directly  connected  with  the  publishing  business  real- 
ize the  vastness  and  importance  of  this  most  wonderful  invention,  and  where 
pages  only  could  be  printed  before,  volumes  could  be  turned  out  by  the  new  device. 
At  the  time  of  its  introduction,  the  Tongue  and  the  Pen  of  the  Great  Herald — 
the  Dawn  which  preceded  the  Great  Light,  was  fully  engaged  explaining  the  hid- 
den mysteries  of  the  Kingdom.  And  as  in  the  temporal,  so  also  in  the  spiritual 

60 


world,  the  Divine  powers  were  manifested  on  earth  as  never  before.  The  spoken 
and  written  words  of  the  Brilliant  Lights  of  Heaven  in  this  Day  exceed  the 
combined  writings  of  all  the  former  Manifestations,  and  the  time  is  not  far 
distant  when  the  cylinder  press  shall  be  taxed  to  its  fullest  capacity  to  supply 
urgent  demands  of  the  people  of  all  the  earth  for  the  wonderful  and  prolific 
Words  of  Wisdom,  Knowledge  and  Understanding  uttered  by  the  "Messenger, 
the  Prince  of  Peace  and  the  Man  Whose  Name  is  The  Branch,"  through  Whom 
in  this  Day  the  Spirit  of  the  Divine  Essence  has  been  poured  upon  the  earth 
more  bountifully  than  ever  before. 

Following  the  increased  fruitage  produced  from  the  seeds  of  knowledge 
scattered  through  the  general  diffusion  of  printed  matter,  more  effective  means 
would  be  needed  to  reap  the  harvest,  and  so  the  wonderful  reaping  machine 
came  in  order,  at  the  time  of  the  beginning  of  the  great  harvest  mentioned  by 
Christ  and  all  the  Prophets,  "when  the  Lord  would  come  with  ten  thousand 
of  His  Saints." 

The  appearance  of  the  ingenious  Reaper  and  Binder  in  the  material  field 
typified  what  was  and  is  being  witnessed  in  the  spiritual.  It  mows  down  wheat 
and  tares  together,  which,  after  being  threshed  out,  passes  through  the  sepa- 
rator and  is  cleansed,  the  tares  being  cast  aside.  So  in  the  spiritual,  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest  came  with  ten  thousand  reapers — the  number  which  acknowl- 
edged Him  at  the  time  of  His  declaration,  and  which  number  has  been  many, 
many  thousand  times  increased  since  then,  who  are  continuing  the  work  of  the  har- 
vest in  accordance  with  that  which  Christ  said  concerning  this  time. — Matt.  13: 
39-43,  "the  harvest  is  the  end  of  the  world  (end  of  this  dispensation)  and  the 
reapers  are  the  angels.  As  therefore  the  tares  are  gathered  and  burned  in  fire, 
so  shall  it  be  in  the  end  of  the  world." 

We  might  elaborate  further  to  show  the  astonishing  relations  between  the 
material  and  spiritual  events  which  have  occurred  since  the  beginning  of  the 
New  Day.  But  the  foregoing  should  suffice  to  awaken  thoughtful  minds  to 
a  realization  of  the  vast  importance  of  investigating  this  momentous  subject 
for  themselves,  allowing  no  flimsy  pretext  whatever  to  hinder  them  from  an 
honest,  sincere  and  earnest  examination  of  this  vital  question.  A  wise  one  has 
said,  "there  is  none  so  blind  as  he  who  will  not  see."  The  proofs  and  signs 
concerning  this  Great  Truth  are  as  clear  and  plain  as  the  light  of  day,  but  if 
one  chooses  to  close  his  eyes  and  refuses  to  open  them,  he  cannot  see  the  light, 
and  though  he  argues  that  there  is  no  light  because  all  is  darkness  to  him,  his 
arguments  will  not  affect  the  fact  that  the  light  is  there,  and  if  he  but  opens 
his  eyes  he  will  behold  it.  So  it  is  also  with  the  one  who  has  received  the  key 
to  this  Great  Truth,  if  he  does  not  "run  to  and  fro"  through  the  sacred  pages. 
he  will  not  be  able  to  discern  the  signs  of  the  times,  which  are  as  clear  and 
obvious  to  the  sight  and  understanding  as  the  noonday  sun  in  the  cloudless  sky 
above  us. 

Passing  over  the  many  stupendous  wonders  revealed  in  the  world  of  science, 
art  and  industry  since  the  introduction  of  the  harvester,  we  shall  touch  briefly 
on  a  few  of  the  late  discoveries,  to  show  that  as  the  days  go  by,  the  proofs  and 
confirmation  become  stronger  and  stronger,  and  that  the  words  of  prophecy  are 
sure  words  and  not  to  be  unheeded. 

It  was  prophesied  nearly  three  thousand  years  ago  that  in  this  day  "The 
chariots  shall  rage  in  the  streets,  they  shall  jostle  one  against  another  in  the 

51 


broad  ways;  they  shall  seem  like  torches,  they  shall  run  like  the  lightnings." — 
Nahum  2:4.  (Note,  there  is  no  mention  of  horses  in  connection  with  these 
chariots. ) 

Compare  with  this  prophecy,  the  published  accounts  of  the  Automobile 
Open  Road  Races  between  Paris  and  Madrid,  and  the  late  Irish  Road  Race, — 
especially  the  former,  in  which  over  two  hundred  contestants  entered,  but  of 
whom  nearly  two-thirds  dropped  out  before  the  end  of  the  first  run  was  reached 
owing  to  accidents  due  to  the  "jostling  one  against  another,"  which  the  light- 
ning speed  attained  rendered  inevitable.  Can  anything  be  plainer  than  this 
prophecy?  "They  shall  jostle  one  against  another  in  the  broad  ways."  Stand 
at  a  street  corner  in  the  crowded  thoroughfares  of  any  important  city,  when 
the  busy  hives  of  industry  turn  out  their  swarms  of  workers  at  the  close  of 
the  day,  and  watch  the  electric  motors  hurrying  along  to  convey  them  to  their 
homes  after  the  toil  of  the  day  is  ended,  jamming,  hustling  and  jostling  at  the 
crossings  in  the  general  push  to  cross  first.  And  as  you  look  on,  think  of  the 
words  above  quoted,  and,  also,  the  rest  of  the  verse,  "They  shall  seem  like 
torches,  they  shall  "run  like  the  lightning."  Observe  the  torches,  the  rows  of 
electric  lights  on  either  side  of  the  car,  which  flash  when  the  button  is  touched. 
Note  the  speed  and  its  resemblance  to  the  lightnings,  as  the  cars  run,  flashing 
electric  sparks  from  the  wheels  and  wires  above,  which  in  reality  is  lightning 
itself.  Then  glance  down  the  boulevards  and  see  the  automobile  flying  along 
at  lightning  speed.  "The  chariots  shall  rage  in  the  streets,"  etc.  A  writer  in 
one  of  the  daily  papers  likened  them  to  a  lot  of  crazy  locomotives  running 
wild  on  the  public  thoroughfares.  Accustomed  as  we  are  to  look  upon  the 
locomotive  as  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  motive  power,  the  comparison  seems  a  fitting 
one,  but  it  does  not  do  justice  to  the  auto,  for  the  latter  has  greatly  eclipsed 
the  speed  of  the  former,  having  covered  the  distance  from  Versailles  to  Bor- 
deaux, 342  miles — in  the  great  Paris-Madrid  race — in  five  hours  and  thirteen 
minutes;  342  miles  in  313  minutes,  or  within  a  fraction  of  66  miles  an  hour 
from  start  to  finish — on  parts  of  the  route  a  rate  of  85  miles  an  hour  was 
reached.  In  his  description  of  the  race,  a  writer  in  one  of  the  magazines  says: 
One  of  the  contestants  "lost  control  of  his  automobile,  which  plowed  into  a 
crowd  of  spectators  and  killed  three  of  them ;  a  tragedy  that  drove  its  horrified 
author  temporarily  insane.  Such  a  series  of  fatalities  left  no  cause  for  surprise 
when  it  was  announced  that  by  order  of  the  French  Government  the  race  was  not 
to  be  continued.  Meanwhile  the  contest  among  the  leaders  was  being  carried 
on  at  a  pace  that  defies  the  imagination  to  follow."  What  imagination  indeed 
can  conceive  a  vehicle  running  on  a  public  country  road  at  the  rate  of  85  miles 
an  hour!  Yet  nearly  three  thousand  years  ago  the  Prophet  declared  in  this  day 
"The  chariots  would  rage  in  the  streets  and  run  like  the  lightnings,"  etc.  Were 
no  other  prophecy  given  to  assure  us  of  the  signs  of  the  times,  this  one  alone 
should  be  sufficient  to  convince  any  honest  seeker  that  the  great  and  unmistakable 
day  of  the  Lord  has  come,  "The  day  that  shall  burn  as  an  oven" — (Mai.  4:1). 

The  fires  of  troubles  and  tribulations,  which  would  be  lighted  to  test 
His  people,  to  "refine  them  as  silver  is  refined,  and  try  them  as  gold  is  tried" 
(see  £ech.  13:8,  9)  have  been  burning  with  increasing  heat  since  the  Appear- 
ance, and  shall  continue  until  the  "multitudes"  are  overcome  "in  the  valley 
of  decision,"  then  shall  come  the  promised  "Most  Great  Peace." 

That  the  blessed  day  is  drawing  nigh  is  assured  by  the  obvious  signs  of 
marvelous  knowledge  revealed  (during  this  present  year  A.  D.  1903),  through 

52 


the  diligent  labors  of  science  assisted  by  that  wondrous  power  which  declared 
centuries  ago  that  in  this  day  "knowledge  should  be  increased." 

To  enjoy  the  promised  material  blessing  that  is  to  follow  the  Great  Peace 
when  "they  shall  sit  every  man  under  his  vine  and  under  his  fig  trees" — two 
things  are  necessary,  viz.:  sound  physical  condition  and  fertile  soil.  Our  de- 
pendence upon  the  latter  for  our  material  needs  is  too  well  understood  to  need 
comment.  All  know  that  while  we  remain  here,  we  require  food,  clothing  and 
shelter,  and  all  this  comes  from  the  land.  But  the  soil  in  many  parts  of  the 
world  has  become  exhausted,  and  much  of  it  that  is  naturally  sterile  is  incapable 
of  producing  without  the  aid  of  costly  fertilizers,  which  fact  renders  the  tilling 
of  such  lands  unprofitable.  Late  discoveries,  however,  will  replenish  those  lost 
elements  from  the  soil  and  restore  its  fertility  through  the  utilization  of  natural 
elements  which  the  All-Wise,  All-Powerful  Designer  and  Creator  intended 
should  supply  the  needs.  And  still  other  discoveries  made  are  going  to  improve 
physical  conditions  so  that  the  dwellers  on  earth  shall  be  in  a  sound,  healthy 
state  to  enjoy  the  fruits  thereof. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  summer,  one  of  the  great  Sunday  papers  devoted 
considerable  space  to  the  wonderful  discovery  of  Radium.     Its  heading  read: 
Newest,  Greatest,  Most  Mysterious 
Force  in  Nature  Just  Discovered 
And  Utterly  Beyond  the 
Power  of  Science 
to  Understand 

or  Explain. 

On  the  same  page  another  article  by  Prof.  Sir  William  Crookes  with  the  follow- 
ing heading: 

How  Can  It 

Give  Out  Light,  Heat  and  Energy  Without  Combustion, 
Loss  of  Weight,  or  Any  Perceptible 

Change  Whatever? 
By  Professor  Sir  William  Crookes, 
The  World's  Greatest  Living  Physicist  and 

Experimental  Scientist. 
Another  heading  treating  the  same  subject   (same  paper)  : 

What  Is  It? 

What  Makes  This  Newly  Discovered  Metal  Shoot 
Out  7,000,000  Particles  a  Minute 
Without  Ever  Exhausting 
Itself? 

We  quote  an  extract  from  the  above.     It  states  as  follows: 

"Radio-Activity,  the  ray-producing  property  of  Radium,  may  be  the  clew 

to  the  mystery  of  life  and  the  universe.     It  may  be  made  to  light  the  streets, 

run  the  machines  and  do  all  the  work  without  exertion  on  the  part  of  man.     It 

has  already  made  blind  men  see,  and  is  able  to  destroy  microbes  and  conquer 

diseases. 

"The  great  scientists,  Professors  Crookes  and  Lodge,  and  Professor  Curie. 

the  discoverer  of   Radium,  have  now  declared  their  belief  that  it  furnishes  a 

clew  to  the  nature  of  all  matter. 

"The  old  theory  that  the  atoms  of  elements  consist  of  indivisible  units  of 

matter  has  now  been  discarded." 

53 


To  quote  from  Sir  William  Crookes"  article,  he  says: 

"The  phenomena  of  Radium  require  us  to  recast  many  of  our  ideas  of 
matter,  electricity  and  energy,  and  its  discovery  promises  to  realize  what  for 
the  last  hundred  years  have  been  but  day  dreams  of  philosophy."  Here  is  some- 
thing for  those  who  "trust  in  the  arm  of  flesh"  and  doubt  the  signs  of  the  times, 
to  think  over.  In  this  highly  intellectual  age,  this  advanced  and  pedantically 
enlightened  young  20th  century — the  greatest  scientists  of  the  day  acknowledg- 
ing that  the  phenomena  of  Radium  require  us  to  recast  many  of  our  ideas,  etc., 
etc.,  and  declaring  their  belief  that  through  the  discovery  of  Radium  and  its 
relation  to  the  nature  of  all  matter,  "the  old  theory  that  the  atoms  of  elements 
consist  of  indivisible  units  of  matter  has  now  been  discarded." 

Why  has  its  discovery  upset  pet  theories  and  old  established  claims  at  this 
particular  time?  And  why  can  it  not  be  understood  and  explained?  Because, 
He  "Whose  going  forth  has  been  from  of  old,  from  everlasting,"  "Whose 
Spirit  was  in  Christ  and  all  of  the  Prophets,"  "The  Word  that  was  in  the  be- 
ginning, the  Word  that  was  with  God,  the  Word  that  was  God,  the  same  Word 
which  became  flesh  and  dwelt  among  us,"  declared  through  the  itinerant  tent- 
maker  1900  years  ago:  "I  will  destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will  bring 
to  nothing  the  understanding  of  all  the  prudent.  Where  is  the  wise?  Where 
is  the  disputer  of  this  world?  Hath  not  God  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  this 
world?  For  ye  see  your  calling,  brethren,  how  that  not  many  wise  men  after 
the  flesh,  not  many  mighty,  not  many  noble,  are  called.  But  God  hath  chosen 
the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise;  and  God  hath  chosen 
the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty.  And 
base  things  of  the  world,  and  things  which  are  despised,  hath  God  chosen,  yea, 
and  things  which  are  not,  to  bring  to  naught  things  that  are — that  no  flesh  should 
glory  in  his  presence.  He  that  glorieth,  let  him  glory  in  the  Lord." — 1st  Corin- 
thians, 1st  Chapter:  19,  20,  26,  27,  28,  29,  31. 

Adequate  knowledge  of  the  wonderful  power  of  the  new  discovery  (Ra- 
dium) and  its  great  benefits  to  mankind  will  be  granted  in  God's  good  time. 
Enough  has  already  been  revealed  for  us  to  realize  the  important  factor  it  will 
be,  with  the  faculty,  in  the  successful  treatment  of  disease,  in  conjunction  with 
the  marvelous  advancement  of  surgery,  and  a  better  understanding  of  natural 
laws — restoring  the  physical  conditions  of  man  to  that  of  primitive  days,  so  that 
he  can  fully  enjoy  the  increased  fruits  of  the  earth  which  the  latest  great  dis- 
covery is  destined  to  achieve.  Already,  Radium  has  accomplished  remarkable 
cures  in  restoring  sight  to  the  physically  blind.  But,  in  these  days  of  senti- 
mental theorizing,  superficial  reasoning  and  intellectual  groping  in  the  darkness 
of  imagination  for  a  visionary  God  to  suit  temporal  fancies,  the  greatest  of  all 
the  extraordinary  power  revealed  has  been  its  wonderful  effect  upon  the  blind- 
ness of  science  itself,  restoring  its  sight  to  the  most  important  fact  that  the  atom 
can  be  divided,  for  upon  this  fact  rests  the  remedy  for  spiritual  blindness. 
Now  that  the  old  belief  has  been  discarded  by  the  leading  scientists,  the  person- 
ality of  God,  i.  e.,  the  manifestation  of  the  divine  essence,  which  can  be  proved 
scientifically  on  this  basis,  must  be  accepted.  (For  the  benefit  of  the  faithful  let 
me  here  remark,  the  divisibility  of  the  atom  was  confirmed  by  Abdul-Baha  sev- 
eral years  in  advance  of  the  discovery  of  science.  See  pamphlet,  "Table  Talks 
with  Abdul-Baha  Abbas,"  issued  several  years  ago.  Page  10.) 

The  late  great  discovery  made  by  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry — Vegetable, 
Pathological  and  Physiological  investigations  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agri- 

64 


culture — is,  in  its  immense  importance  to  mankind,  the  crowning  discovery  up 
to   date. 

To  convey  an  intelligent  idea  of  this  wonderful  discovery,  I  cannot  do 
better  than  to  quote  from  an  article  published  in  the  Saturday  Evening  Post 
(July  18th,  1903),  as  follows: 

"In  propagating  nitrogen-breathing  bacteria  by  the  billion  and  shipping 
them,  without  impairing  their  vitality,  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States  to  be 
used  in  multiplying  the  yield  of  crops  from  100  to  1,000  per  cent.,  and  in  adding 
lasting  fertility  to  the  soil,  the  United  States  Government  has  brought  about  a 
great  achievement  in  science.  It  is  a  triumph  which  those  who  know  say  means 
the  regeneration  of  the  earth.  It  has  passed  the  experimental  stage,  and  the 
United  States  Government  is  now  ready  to  start  innumerable  armies  from  the 
laboratories  in  Washington,  where  they  are  recruited,  to  levy  upon  the  infinite 
supply  of  nitrogen  in  the  air  and  convert  it  to  the  uses  of  mankind.  Significant 
as  the  work  of  these  bacteria  will  be  in  stimulating  plant  productivity  and  in 
renewing  depleted  soils,  it  will  be  equaled  if  not  eclipsed  by  their  further  service 
of  imparting  to  foodstuffs  the  albumenoids  and  proteids  which  are  of  primary 
importance  in  the  diet  of  human  beings  and  animals."  "That  the  agricultural 
future  of  the  world  is  to  depend  on  minute  creatures  reared  by  the  American 
Government,  may  sound  incredible,"  said  a  Washington  scientist,  "but  experts 
throughout  the  world  have  been  eagerly  awaiting  results  of  our  experiments. 
Many  tests  abundantly  prove  our  claims.  The  world's  problem  in  agriculture 
has  been  to  secure  available  nitrogen  for  plant  life.  It  has  been  known  to  stu- 
dents of  agriculture  that  bacteria  on  the  roots  of  legumes  enabled  them  to  absorb 
nitrogen  from  the  air.  The  effort  to  cultivate  these  bacteria,  and  to  invent  a 
method  by  which  they  could  be  preserved  and  transported  to  be  used  by  farmers 
for  the  inoculation  of  seed  crops,  has  absorbed  the  scientific  attention  of  one 
branch  of  the  U.  S.  Government  for  over  a  year.  Now  we  have  mastered  the 
mystery  of  growth  of  these  microscopic  friends  of  husbandry,  and  we  are  pre- 
pared to  introduce  a  factor  destined  to  revolutionize  the  whole  field  of  American 
agriculture.  Henceforth  the  farmer,  if  he  chooses,  can  get  his  fertilizing  ma- 
terial in  miniature  packages  by  mail,  instead  of  by  the  ton  and  wagon  load." 
(Further  information  can  be  had  by  writing  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agri- 
culture. ) 

The  time  of  this  discovery  is  also  significant. 

The  guano  deposits  are  nearly  exhausted,  and  the  nitrate  beds  of  Chile 
and  Peru,  which  were  supposed  to  be  inexhaustible,  are  found  to  be  giving  out. 
Recently  it  was  predicted  by  scientists  that  we  would  see  a  nitrogen  famine  before 
another  generation  passed,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  eight-tenths  of  the  air 
is  composed  of  nitrogen, — 38,000  tons  of  nitrogen  hanging  over  every  acre  of  land,  • 
but  of  which  scientists  believed  no  agency  could  be  found  to  extract  any  avail- 
able portion  therefrom.  But  God  has  provided  the  agency.  The  work  has  been 
reserved  for  the  tiny  microbes,  those  infinitesimal  animalcules  that  live  in  the 
dust,  to  play  the  part  assigned  them  in  His  Great  Day.  Psalm  30:9:  "Shall 
the  dust  praise  Thee?  Shall  it  declare  Thy  truth?"  Psalm  145:10:  "All 
Thy  works  shall  praise  Thee,  O  Lord ;  and  Thy  saints  shall  bless  Thee"  at  this 
"time  of  restitution  of  all  things."  Acts  3:21.  When  also,  His  estranged  and 
persecuted  people  shall  be  restored,  of  which  the  Zion  movement  is  a  significant 
sign.  "Then  shall  the  Lord  be  jealous  for  His  land  and  pity  His  people.  Yea, 
the  Lord  will  answer  and  say  unto  His  people,  Behold  I  will  send  you  corn 
and  wine  and  oil  and  ye  shall  be  satisfied  therewith,  and  I  will  no  more  make 

65 


you  a  reproach  among  the  nations." — Joel  2:18,  19.  And  we  are  reminded 
(Isa.  4:2,  3):  "In  that  day  shall  the  Branch  of  the  Lord  be  beautiful  and 
glorious  and  the  fruit  of  the  earth  shall  be  excellent  and  comely  for  them  that 
are  escaped  of  Israel,  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  he  that  is  left  in  Zion  and 
he  that  remaineth  in  Jerusalem  shall  be  called  holy."  Who  is  this  Branch 
that  is  beautiful  and  glorious  and  holy  that  has  been  left  in  Zion  ( Acca)  ?  Abdul- 
Baha  is  His  Name,  the  Son,  "begotten  in  This  Day" — Psalm  2:7;  and  through 
Whom  alone  can  the  Father  be  reached, — the  Center  of  His  Covenant  to  Whom 
all  must  turn  and  look  to  for  passports  into  the  eternal  realms.  "Jesus  saith 
unto  him,  I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life;  no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father, 
but  by  me." — St.  John,  14:6.  The  same  is  true  at  this  time.  Those  who  do 
not  fully  recognize  the  position  of  the  Master  trifle  with  eternal  life.  The  enor- 
mity of  the  offence  may  be  realized  from  the  following,  2nd  Peter,  2:21,  22: 
"For  it  had  been  better  for  them  not  to  have  known  the  way  of  righteousness, 
than,  after  they  have  known  it,  to  turn  from  the  holy  commandment  delivered 
unto  them. 

"But  it  is  happened  unto  them  according  to  the  true  proverb,  The  dog  is 
turned  to  his  own  vomit  again ;  and  the  sow  that  was  washed  to  her  wallowing 
in  the  mire." 

Can  anything  be  more  abominable,  loathsome  or  abhorrent  to  refined  senses 
than  the  disgusting  spectacle  of  a  dog  vomiting  up  a  mess  of  partly  digested 
food,  then  turning  around  and  licking  it  up  again!  Yet,  this,  the  Holy  Spirit 
has  declared,  is  how  the  violators  of  the  Covenant  appear  to  the  faithful.  But 
offensive  as  the  sight  is,  it  is  not  any  more  nauseating  to  God  than  the  easy-going 
neutrality  of  the  intellectually  refined,  who  rely  upon  ethical  observances  as 
sufficient  to  insure  a  high  place  in  the  Kingdom,  for  He  has  declared,  Rev.  3:15, 
16:  "I  know  thy  works,  that  thou  art  neither  cold  nor  hot;  I  would  thou  wert 
cold  or  hot.  So  then  because  thou  art  lukewarm,  and  neither  cold  nor  hot,  I 
will  spue  thee  out  of  my  mouth." 

To  the  one  who  has  followed  closely  the  prophecies  of  Scripture,  the  cor- 
respondence between  them  and  the  wonderful  knowledge  revealed,  through  the 
discoveries  of  science,  is  clear  and  manifest.  The  last  is  specially  significant. 

The  restoration  of  the  earth's  fertility  that  material  food  may  be  supplied 
in  abundance,  coming  at  a  time  when  the  heavenly  table  has  descended,  spread 
with  an  abundance  of  all  kinds  of  delicious  spiritual  food,  confirms  what  we 
said  in  the  outset  that  the  order  in  which  discoveries  and  inventions  came  to  us, 
was,  in  itself,  the  strongest  proof  that  they  came  by  Divine  Order  and  Appoint- 
ment. 

And  now!  To  those  who  question  the  signs  of  troubles  and  calamities  as 
having  any  special  significance,  we  repeat:  "How  about  the  fourth  verse  of 
same  Chapter  (Daniel  12th),  as  follows: 

"But  thou,  O  Daniel,  shut  up  the  words,  and  seal  the  book,  even  to  the 
time  of  the  end;  many  shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall  be  increased." 
It  has  been  proved  to  us  by  the  only  positive  and  convincing  proofs,  viz.: 
a  clear,  logical  explanation  of  the  hidden  mysteries  of  the  wonderful  Book,  so 
plain,  comprehensive,  consistent — fitting  together  with  such  perfect  harmony  and 
agreement — that  we  know  for  a  certainty  the  seal  has  been  broken,  which  fact 
at  the  same  time  proves,  without  any  further  evidence,  that  this  is  the  "time  of 
the  end."  All  can  have  these  proofs  in  the  same  way  we  obtained  them,  if 
they  will  take  the  trouble  to  seek,  ask  and  knock. 

56 


That  running  to  and  fro,  both  spiritually  and  materially,  as  before  ex- 
plained, has  been  increased  to  a  degree  exceeding  that  of  centuries  combined, 
who,  in  the  face  of  plain,  patent  facts,  can  deny?  And  that  revealed  knowledge 
has  been  increased  more  in  the  last  eighty-odd  years  than  in  many  centuries 
combined,  who  can  gainsay? 

Whether  there  are  those  who  still  attach  no  importance  to  the  troublous 
signs  of  the  times,  or  not,  they  have  come  nevertheless;  as  the  wail  of  misery 
and  distress,  which  comes  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  beareth-  testimony.  At 
this  time,  nearing  the  end,  the  Prophets  foretold  great  troubles  and  Christ  spec- 
ified many  of  them  from  the  beginning  of  the  new  day.  He  said  many  shall 
come  in  my  name  saying,  I  am  Christ,  and  shall  deceive  many;  that  we  should 
hear  of  wars  and  rumours  of  wars;  that  nation  would  rise  against  nation  and 
kingdom  against  kingdom;  that  there  would  be  famines,  pestilences  and  earth- 
quakes in  divers  places;  that  many  false  Christs  and  false  prophets  would  arise 
and  show  great  wonders,  insomuch  that  if  it  were  possible  they  would  deceive 
even  the  very  elect.  And  because  iniquity  should  abound,  the  love  of  many 
would  wax  cold,  and  that  the  Gospel  of  the  Kingdom  would  be  preached  in  all 
the  world  for  a  witness  unto  all  nations;  and  then  shall  the  end  come.  All 
these  things  have  been  witnessed  by  the  present  generation,  but  many  have  been 
given  eyes  that  seeing,  see  not,  and  ears  that  hearing,  hear  not,  as  it  is  written, 
Mark  4:12:  "That  seeing  they  may  see,  and  not  perceive;  and  hearing  they 
may  hear,  and  not  understand."  The  same  referred  to  by  Christ,  Matt.  16:3, 
"O  ye  hypocrites,  ye  can  discern  the  face  of  the  sky;  but  can  ye  not  discern  the 
signs  of  the  times?"  And  these  signs  of  tribulations  have  been  confirmed  by  the 
breaking  of  the  seals,  revealing  the  mysteries  of  the  Kingdom,  the  wonderful 
growth  of  travel,  "the  running  to  and  fro" — and  the  marvelous  increase  of  knowl- 
edge which  is  beyond  ordinary  minds  to  grasp  that  has  been  revealed  in  these 
latter  days. 

The  opposers  of  this  Truth  may  flatter  themselves  with  the  vain  belief  that 
by  expert  reasoning,  based  on  what  they  consider  sound,  intellectual  deductions, 
they  can  overthrow  what  they  are  pleased  to  term  the  delusive  claims  of  those 
who  pin  their  faith  to  the  prophecies — whom  they  say  are  "living  and  moving 
under  the  power  of  suggestion."  But  their  reasoning  will  indeed  need  to  be 
expert  in  a  superlative  degree  and  their  arguments  of  the  highest  intellectual 
standard  in  order  even  to  attract  listening  ears  to  any  arguments  they  can  ad- 
vance to  disprove  the  fact  that,  during  the  period,  knowledge  has  been  increased 
as  never  before.  They  may  succeed  in  persuading  themselves  and  unthinking 
persons  into  the  belief  that  the  troublesome  times  have  no  special  significance; 
but  they  cannot  quench  the  dazzling  light  of  knowledge  which  has  accompanied 
these  troubles  and  confirms  them  from  every  side. 

It  is  written,  1st  Cor.  3:18,  19:  "Let  no  man  deceive  himself.  If  any 
man  among  you  seemeth  to  be  wise  in  this  world,  let  him  become  a  fool,  that 
he  may  be  wise.  For  the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolishness  with  God.  For 
it  is  written,  He  taketh  the  wise  in  their  own  craftiness." 

We  have  seen  the  claims  of  the  worldly  wise  of  one  period  overthrown  by 
the  wisdom  of  the  wise  of  another  period.  But  the  Wisdom  of  God  is  for  ever- 
lasting, and  no  man  can  overthrow  it.  He  has  promised  through  His  Mouth- 
pieces, the  Prophets,  many  great  things  would  take  place  in  the  latter  days,  and 
these  promises  we  see  are  being  fulfilled  to  the  letter.  All  the  wonderful  dis- 
coveries correspond  with  that  which  is  going  on  in  the  Spiritual  Kingdom.  They 

are  types  which  assure  us  of  Eternal  Greatness. 

*X 

57 


The  latest  are  Signs  of  great  Heavenly  Bounties. 

If  the  X-Rays  can  penetrate  solid,  opaque  substances;  the  telephone  transmit 
speech  in  distinct  accents  from  city  to  city;  the  wireless  telegraph  flash  our  words 
across  the  ocean  from  one  hemisphere  to  the  other;  the  phonograph  reproduce 
the  audible  sounding  words  spoken  into  it  by  the  tongue  of  man  in  articulate 
exactness;  the  powerful  Radium  restore  sight  to  the  blind  and  destroy  the  germs 
of  malignant  disease;  and  tiny  little  nitrogen-breathing  microbes  increase  the 
fruits  of  the  earth,  then  we  are  assured  the  "All  Seeing  Eye"  can  pierce  the  heart 
and  discern  the  secret  thoughts  of  His  creatures  as  declared  in  Romans  8 :27 : 
"And  he  that  searcheth  the  hearts  knoweth  what  is  in  the  mind  of  the  spirit." 
His  Truth  has  been  accentuated  through  His  telephonic  instruments,  the  Proph- 
ets, as  mentioned  in  Hebrews,  1st  Chapter,  1st  Verse:  "God,  who  at  sundry 
times  and  in  divers  manners  spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by  the  prophets." 
In  this  day  He  speaks  through  His  chosen  servants,  as  referred  to  in  Isaiah  43  :10, 
1 1 :  "Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  the  Lord,  whom  I  have  chosen ;  that  ye  may 
know  and  believe  me,  and  understand  that  I  am  he;  before  me  there  was  no 
God  formed,  neither  shall  there  be  after  me.  I,  even  I,  am  the  Lord;  and  beside 
me  there  is  no  saviour."  These  witnesses  are  further  described  in  Psalm  68:11 : 
"The  Lord  gave  the  word;  great  was  the  company  of  those  that  published  it." 
Without  any  visible  agency  His  Voice  can  and  will  reach  the  remotest  parts  of 
the  universe  in  accordance  with  the  promise  to  the  faithful,  Isaiah  30:21 :  "And 
thine  ears  shall  hear  a  word  behind  thee,  saying,  This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it, 
when  ye  turn  to  the  right  hand,  and  when  ye  turn  to  the  left."  His  mani- 
festation was  the  Phonetic  Instrument  into  Whom  He  spoke,  and  by  Whom 
His  words  were  reproduced,  accentuated  by  the  power  of  Divine  Perfection,  as 
shown  in  Hebrews  1 :2 :  "Hath  in  these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by  His  Son, 
whom  He  hath  appointed  heir  of  all  things,"  and  which  is  confirmed  by  the 
words  of  Christ,  St.  John,  14:23,  24:  "If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my 
words;  and  my  father  will  love  him.  He  that  loveth  me  not  keepeth  not  my 
sayings;  and  the  word  which  ye  hear  is  not  mine,  but  the  Father's  which  sent  me." 
The  scintillating  rays  of  undiminishing  light  emitted  from  the  Divine  Radium 
of  unsearchable  knowledge,  wisdom  and  power,  will,  according  to  the  promise, 
restore  sight  and  heal  the  sick,  Isaiah  29:18:  "And  the  eyes  of  the  blind  shall 
see  out  of  obscurity,  and  out  of  darkness."  Exodus  23 :25 :  "And  ye  shall  serve 
the  Lord  your  God,  and  he  shall  bless  thy  bread,  and  thy  water;  and  I  will  take 
sickness  away  from  the  midst  of  thee."  Also  Jer.  30:17:  "For  I  will  restore 
health  unto  thee,  and  I  will  heal  thee  of  thy  wounds,  saith  the  Lord." 

And  the  fruitful  garden  of  His  bountiful  Paradise  is  fully  equal  to  the 
promise,  Mai.  3:10:  "And  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  if 
I  will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that 
there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to  receive  it."  Also  Deut.  7:13:  "And  he  will 
bless  the  fruit  of  thy  land,  thy  corn  and  thy  wine,  and  thine  oil,  the  increase 
of  thy  kine,  and  the  flocks  of  thy  sheep."  And  Isaiah  25 :6 :  "And  in  this 
mountain  shall  the  Lord  of  Hosts  make  unto  all  people  a  feast  of  fat  things,  a 
feast  of  wines  on  the  lees,  of  fat  things  full  of  marrow,  of  wines  on  the  lees 
well  refined." 

In  the  face  of  all  this  evidence,  who,  in  possession  of  their  sane  faculties, 
can  doubt  the  signs  of  the  times? 

To  satisfy  those  who  complain  that  prophecy  is  not  clear  on  the  length  of 
time  the  Blessed  Perfection's  mission  would  last,  and  the  principal  place  of  his 

H 


sojourn  while  on  earth — we  refer  you  to  Micah  7:14,  15,  which  confirms  abso- 
lutely former  references.  It  is  written: 

"Feed  thy  people  with  thy  rod,  the  flock  of  thine  heritage,  which  dwell 
solitary  in  the  wood,  in  the  midst  of  Carmel;  let  them  feed  in  Bashan  and 
Gilead,  as  in  the  days  of  old. 

"According  to  the  days  of  thy  coming  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  will  I  shew 
unto  him  marvelous  things." 

What  do  we  learn  from  the  above?  A  glance  at  the  Bible  Atlas  shows 
that  in  the  locality  of  the  Valley  of  Acca,  he  would  feed  His  people  with  His 
Rod — the  Word  of  God,  the  Teachings — according  to  the  days  of  the  coming 
out  of  Egypt.  How  long  was  Moses  leading  the  children  of  Israel?  Forty 
years,  was  it  not?  And  how  long  was  the  Blessed  Perfection  feeding  His  people 
personally?  He  appeared  in  1852  and  departed  in  1892;  1892  minus  1852, 
equals  forty — the  number  of  years  He  fed  His  people,  "showing  them  wonder- 
ful things,"  ending  His  earthly  days  in  the  "midst  of  Carmel,"  where  He  pitched 
His  tent,  after  being  given  His  freedom  to  go  outside  the  walls  of  Acca,  and 
spent  many  of  His  remaining  days  teaching,  counseling  and  advising  His  people 
who  visited  Him.  Nothing  can  be  plainer  than  this  prophecy. 

Some  cannot  understand  why,  if  this  be  the  Truth — if  the  Father  has 
come — if  God  has  again  manifested  Himself  in  the  flesh — the  whole  world  does 
not  know  about  it  and  receive  Him  with  open  arms.  To  such  we  can  only  ask, 
how  much  of  the  world  knew  of  Christ  and  accepted  Him  in  His  earthly  days? 
According  to  the  records  He  was  not  known  without  a  radius  of  thirty  miles, 
and  during  His  mission  did  not  have  one  hundred  followers,  and  those  followers 
He  did  have  all  forsook  Him  at  the  last,  so  that  at  the  time  of  His  crucifixion, 
not  a  single  one  acknowledged  Him,  and  for  three  days  the  Truth  He  taught 
was  dead  and  buried,  but  it  arose  on  the  third  day  after  He  appeared  to  Mary 
Magdalen  (in  a  vision)  and  assured  her  He  was  still  alive  and  would  be  with 
them  forever.  She  being  alive  to  the  real  conditions,  hastened  to  the  disciples 
and  told  them  of  her  experience,  and  by  her  fervor  and  earnestness  aroused  the 
disciples  so  they  got  together  again  and  while  assembled  in  a  room  Christ  ap- 
peared (in  a  vision)  to  them  and  revived  and  confirmed  them,  so  that  they  went 
forth  and  preached  His  doctrine,  never  faltering  the  remainder  of  their  days. 
Christ  came  to  His  own,  but  they  received  Him  not — and  why?  Because  they 
looked  for  a  literal  fulfillment  of  prophecy;  they  expected  to  see  "the  earth  cast 
out  its  dead,  the  sun  to  be  darkened  and  the  moon  turned  into  blood,  the  Heavens 
to  be  rolled  together  as  a  scroll,  the  wolf  and  the  lamb  to  dwell  together,  the 
leopard  to  lie  down  with  the  kid,  the  calf  and  the  young  lion  to  feed  together 
and  a  little  child  to  lead  them," — but  in  all  these  looked-for  signs,  they  were 
disappointed,  hence  the  rejection  of  their  Messiah.  They  had  forgotten  the 
words  of  Isaiah  that  "All  vision  had  become  unto  them  as  the  words  of  a  book 
that  is  sealed,"  and  the  command  delivered  to  Daniel  to  "shut  up  the  words  and 
seal  the  book  even  to  the  time  of  the  end."  The  sealing  of  the  Book  being 
their  inability  to  understand  the  symbolic  language  in  which  it  was  couched,  but 
which  Christ  would  have  explained  to  them  had  they  but  listened ;  but  they  re- 
fused to  listen,  thus  "the  natural  branches  were  broken  off  and  the  wild  olive 
tree  (the  Gentiles)  were  grafted  in  among  them."  They  are  known  now  as 
Christians,  and  Christ  promised  them  He  would  come  again,  and  the  Church 
is  looking  for  His  Second  Advent.  Like  the  "natural  branches  that  were  broken 
off"  they  are  looking  for  the  literal  fulfillment  of  prophecy.  They  are  waiting 
for  the  sound  of  the  "trump  of  God  and  the  dead  in  Christ  to  rise  first  with 

59 


their  material  bodies,  then  to  be  caught  up  in  the  clouds  to  meet  the  Lord  in 
the  air,"  notwithstanding  the  words  of  Peter  upon  Whom  the  Church  was  built, 
that  "no  prophecy  of  the  Scripture  is  of  any  private  interpretation." 

Not  until  "The  Root  of  David  hath  prevailed  to  open  the  book,  and  loose 
the  seven  seals  thereof"  could  its  meaning  be  rightly  and  fully  understood. 

That  the  Church  would  be  likely  to  fall  into  the  same  error  as  the  House 
of  Israel  is  evinced  by  the  warning  given  to  it  by  the  great  Apostle  Paul. — 
Rom.  11:17  to  22: 

"And  if  some  of  the  branches  be  broken  off,  and  thou,  being  a  wild  olive 
tree,  vvert  grafted  in  among  them,  and  with  them  partakest  of  the  root  and  fat- 
ness of  the  olive  tree: 

"Boast  not  against  the  branches.  But  if  thou  boast,  thou  bearest  not  the 
root,  but  the  root  thee. 

"Thou  wilt  say  then,  the  branches  were  broken  off,  that  I  might  be 
grafted  in. 

"Well;  because  of  unbelief  they  were  broken  off,  and  thou  standest  by  faith. 
Be  not  high-minded,  but  fear; 

"For  if  God  spared  not  the  natural  branches,  take  heed  lest  He  also  spare 
not  thee. 

"Behold  therefore  the  goodness  and  severity  of  God;  on  them  which  fell, 
severity;  but  toward  thee,  goodness,  if  thou  continue  in  His  goodness;  otherwise 
thou  also  shalt  be  cut  off." 

In  the  day  of  Christ,  the  Jews  had  many  invitations  to  investigate  the  claims 
He  set  up,  but  they  treated  them  with  indifference — to  their  evident  loss  and 
degradation.  The  same  invitation  is  extended  to  the  people  of  the  world  in 
this  day. 

An  honest  investigation  will  reveal  to  those  who  have  sung,  with  doubtful 
assurance,  the  old  song: 

"Joy  to  the  world,  the  Lord  has  come, 

Let  earth  receive  her  King,"  etc. 

that  in  this  day,  it  is  a  Reality;  and  the  philanthropic  workers  of  reform  will 
discover  that  upon  this  Great  Truth  depends  the  reformation  of  the  world  and 
the  general  amelioration  of  mankind ;  that  party  measures  or  any  organized 
efforts  for  the  propagation  of  the  philosophies  of  man,  will  never  effect  a  perma- 
nent good.  The  reform  must  begin  in  the  individual  heart,  and  the  first  step 
in  this  direction  must  be  taken  in  the  straight  and  narrow  path  which  leads  to 
an  intelligent  knowledge  of  God;  that  knowledge  which  engenders  faith  from 
which  springs  that  yearning  to  fulfill  the  first  great  command  "to  love  God 
with  all  the  heart."  When  this  desirable  condition  is  reached  by  individuals, 
genuine  love  towards  mankind  and  unselfish  interest  in  his  welfare,  will  follow. 

The  contents  of  this  Chapter  furnish  food  for  serious  thought,  and  it  is  to 
the  interest  of  all  to  investigate  to  the  end.  In  the  words  of  the  great  Apostle, 
Heb.  2:3:  "How  shall  we  escape,  if  we  neglect  so  great  salvation?" 

No  attempt  has  been  made  to  work  on  the  sentiments  or  emotions,  or  to 
draw  on  the  imagination.  We  have  simply  stated  facts.  These  stern  realities 
must  be  faced  by  all,  and  whether  we  are  to  reach  a  higher  plane  of  existence  or 
descend  to  one  lower  than  the  animals,  is  for  each  individual  to  decide  for 
himself. 

"Oh  God,  we  are  Thy  servants,  and  in  Thy  Hands.  Confirm  us  to  do 
that  which  brings  the  wave  of  the  sweet  fragrance  of  Thy  Pleasure." 

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